Increased fighting stymies Thanphyuzayart to Three Pagoda Pass trade routes
by Daniel Pedersen on Jul.18, 2010, under Burma reportage
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Three Pagoda Pass, ThailandJuly 16, 2010
Traders in Three Pagoda Pass (TPP) township have shut down border trade routes after increased fighting between the Burma Army and insurgent Karen forces have made the road between TPP and Thanphyuzayart too dangerous to travel.
According to traders, the presence of Coastline Command Light Infantry Battalion No. 409 and the Karen National Union’s (KNU) Battalion No. 16 and No. 17 has caused significant fighting along the route between the towns of Three Pagoda Pass and Thanphyuzayart.
“If they are always fighting, we don’t have security to travel this route. If they are still fighting at that time we try to travel, we will face danger,” said one merchant who trades groceries form TPP to Thanphyuzayart. “Then if they stop our car, it takes a long time to arrive at the border.
This route is the only road between TPP and Thanphyuzayart. It is the main trade route for merchants bringing Thai products form the border to Thanphyuzayart, and basic foodstuffs back to communities living on the border.
From the end of June until now, the KNU and Burma Army have clashed on at least four occasions. As a result, traders have decided that traveling the route is too risky.
According to a source close to the KNU, on June 10th, 3 brief skirmishes with the Burma Army occurred. More recently on July 11th, at around 3pm near Aplone village, TPP, KNU forces ambushed a Burma Army unit and the Lieutenant commanding the unit was killed.
Over the last two months frequent clashes have lead to the deaths of over 30 Burma Army soldiers.
ENDS
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"Secret Genocide is a scholarly book on the plight of the Karen of Burma. Author Daniel Pedersen writes about the secret genocide of the Karen people at the hands of the Burmese junta, who use murder, rape, forced labour and torture to quell their enemies. Decades after the Karen took up arms against Rangoon; there is no telling when - or if - their struggle for a secure homeland will finally be accomplished"
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