TAK, 30 April 2013 Border patrol units in Tak’s Mae Sot district have beefed up security in the area following clashes between Karen soldiers from Border Guard Force (BGF) unit and the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) near the province.
The army units set up checkpoints to screen passing vehicles and commuters as the district, bordering Myanmar and Thailand, is a major shipping point between the two neighbours. The tightened security came amid fears that Myanmar military operations would spill out onto Thai soil.
Armed fighting earlier broke out in Myanmar’s Karen state between Karen soldiers and the rebel group, resulting in deaths on both sides. Zaw Min, Karen State’s chief minister has not been able to broker a truce between the two parties.
Since independence in 1948, a number of Karen rebel groups gained control in parts of the jungle throughout the state and fought guerrilla campaigns against government-backed troops. However, in 2012, two rebel groups which include the DKBA signed historic ceasefires with the central government, bringing temporary peace to the war-torn state.
