AFTER Karen National Union (KNU) and People’s Defence Force (PDF) fighters yesterday (Apr. 7) captured Myawaddy town, just across the border from Thailand’s Mae Sot town, Myanmar authorities used a chartered plane to fly things, believed to be cash, plus officials from Mae Sot airport to Yangon with Thai government’s permission , Thai Rath and Matichon newspapers said today.
KNU and PDF forces had first seized the tactical headquarters of the Myanmar junta in Myawaddy before invading Battalion 275 base, the largest one in the border town, after which anti-junta troops were in control of the entire Myawaddy district.
Most of Myanmar’s overland trade with Thailand passes through Myawaddy.
This fall of the border town led to officials, such as customs and immigration and those attached to other agencies, withdrawing and evacuating to Kawkareik town which is still under the junta’s control.
It was reported that the Myanmar authorities had asked the Thai government through the Foreign Ministry to allow a chartered plane to land at Mae Sot airport. This airplane landed at 10 p.m. after which some things, believed to be mainly cash, were loaded onto the plane. After some Myanmar officials boarded the plane it took off for Yangon.
At 2.30 p.m. Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman Mr. Thanawat Sirikul said the Myanmar Embassy had requested on Saturday April 6 that three special flights be allowed to fly the Yangon-Mae Sot route on April 7, 8, 9 to transport people and other things.
After receiving the request and considering the urgency of the situation and the possibility that Myanmar personnel and their families may have to be evacuated to safe areas, it was decided to approve Myanmar’s request on humanitarian grounds.
However Myanmar authorities later cancelled today’s and tomorrow’s flights.
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has called a special meeting on the changing situation in Myanmar with this to be held after tomorrow’s cabinet meeting and to be attended by Foreign Ministry and security agencies.
CAPTION:
The chartered flight that landed at Mae Sot airport last night and the pick-up truck believed to be carrying cash next to it. Photo: Thai Rath
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