Kawkareik is an economically vital township in Kawkareik District, Kayin State, situated on the Hpa-an-Myawaddy highway. It's approximately 41 miles from Myawaddy, Myanmar-Thailand Border Township, and lies on the key Asian Highway for trade.Kawkareik serves as a major intersection with good road connections to Myawaddy, Hpa-an, Mawlamyaing, and Kyainseikgyi. With the aim of controlling Kawkareik, a strategic township on the Asian Highway, and the Hpa-an-Kawkareik-Myawaddy Asian Highway, and to disrupt border trade flow and government administrative mechanisms, the KNU, KNLA, and PDF terrorist joint groups initiated efforts to permanently seize Kawkareik and local military headquarters.Starting in early April 2024, they launched two columns from the north and south of Kawkareik along the old Kawkareik-Thingannyinaung road with superior forces to enter the township.Additionally, they fired heavy weapons into the township from a distance, resulting in the burning and destruction of office buildings and homes. Local people were forced to abandon their homes and properties and temporarily evacuate to safer areas.Myanmar Tatmadaw columns counter-attacked from defensive positions within the township, with battles occurring from April 19 to 22. The terrorist insurgents suffered heavy casualties and losses, and retreated in disarray. After their retreat, to re-implement their military objectives, the KNU, KNLA, and PDF terrorist joint groups launched another offensive with superior forces from five routes starting April 13, 2025. They aimed to permanently seize the key border trade route of the Hpa-an-Kyonedoe-Kawkareik-Myawaddy Asian Highway, as well as Kyonedoe and Kawkareik townships. They blocked the Kyonedoe-Kawkareik-Myawaddy Asian Highway and fiercely attacked Kyonedoe and Kawkareik.To reopen the roads disrupted and blocked by the KNU, KNLA, and PDF terrorist joint groups and to restore normal vehicle movement, Tatmadaw columns bravely advanced, fought, and crushed the terrorist insurgents starting April 13, 2025. Over more than three months of operations, there were 7 major battles and 85 skirmishes with the terrorist insurgents. This resulted in severe injuries to some enemy leaders, and 17 enemy bodies, 30 various weapons, and related items were seized. Some Tatmadaw personnel were injured or killed.As of today, July 24, the Kyonedoe-Kawkareik route has been fully re-controlled and reopened, and the Tatmadaw has completely thwarted their military objectives. Furthermore, Tatmadaw columns are continuing operations along the highway to ensure safe and normal travel for local residents, travelers, cargo vehicles, and passenger vehicles. They are also carrying out repair work on roads and bridges destroyed by the terrorist insurgents and conducting mine clearance operations. It is understood that plans are underway to swiftly clear the remaining sections of the Asian Highway via Myawaddy to fully reopen it.We are pleased to announce that the second phase of rehabilitation work for Kyonedoe and Kawkareik towns, along with efforts to establish rule of law, stability, and territorial control in surrounding villages, will also continue simultaneously.mitv
Fri, 25-Jul-2025
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