The Karen National Union (KNU) has officially announced the capture of the military council’s Thee Kee strategic camp and Taco Bee Kee camp in Dawei and Hlaingbwe townships near the Thai-Myanmar border. The Thee Kee strategic camp, which fell under military council control in 1997, has now been recaptured after 28 years. The Thee Kee area was initially planned as the KNU Myeik-Dawei District Headquarters and Division Headquarters in 1974, with construction beginning in 1975.
The Thee Kee area housed both district and division headquarters offices, with families of office members residing in Thee Hta, serving at both the district and division headquarters. Additionally, on May 9 at 9:00 AM, the KNLA-led allied forces successfully captured the military council’s Infantry Battalion 24 base camp, known as Lay Pa Na Di (or) Taco Bee Kee, located in KNU Brigade 7 territory in Hlaingbwe Township near the Thai-Myanmar border.
Due to the fighting, over three hundred Karen local villagers have fled to Mae Tan village on the Thai side, while Thai military and authorities are patrolling along the border to detain military council soldiers who attempt to cross the border. Currently, more than ten military council camps remain along the Thai-Myanmar border within KNU Brigade 7 territory. Reports indicate that military council troops continue to commit acts of violence against local civilians, engaging in forced military recruitment and oppression.
