The KNU-KNLA Myeik-Dawei District Secretary Padoh Saw Eh Nah has confirmed that the Dawei-Htee Khee border trade gate connecting Dawei Township in Tanintharyi Region and Kanchanaburi Province in Thailand is not yet operational. While reports emerged that Thai authorities had approved trade at the Phunamron-Htee Khee border checkpoint connecting Htee Khee village in Dawei Township and Phunamron village in Kanchanaburi Province, the border monitoring committee continues to restrict Thai nationals from entering Myanmar territory citing security concerns.
According to Padoh Saw Eh Nah, while the Htee Khee border checkpoint previously allowed Thai traders to sell rice and food items, operations were temporarily suspended during KNLA’s offensive on Htee Hta base. Although the checkpoint has reopened, movement of people and trade activities remain restricted, with no entry permitted for cargo vehicles from Dawei and other regions. He clarified that despite recent reports about trade resumption, actual border commerce operations have not yet begun. The announcement comes after KNLA joint forces captured the military council’s Thuka camp along the Thai-Myanmar border in the Myeik-Dawei district on July 7, causing over 30 soldiers to flee into Thailand.
KNLA and PDF joint forces have successfully captured five military bases along the Thai-Myanmar border in Dawei district during April and June, including Htee Hta strategic base, Htee Khee military camp, Bodhi military camp, and Ngayanni camp, with Thuka camp being the latest addition. Currently, only Nat Tain Taung camp remains under military control in the Thai-Myanmar border area of Dawei district, with an estimated 30-50 soldiers stationed there. The capture of this final outpost would complete KNLA-led revolutionary forces’ control over the entire Thai-Myanmar border section within Dawei district.
