Mae Sot officials fear Myanmar migrants may flee to Thailand amid tense situation

This has resulted in a tense border situation on the Myanmar side, which is already grappling with the spread of Covid-19.

There is also a potential risk of more clashes between Myanmar’s military and ethnic armed forces after the three commanders were dismissed.

Most recently, there were reports of clashes between Myanmar’s military and an armed minority group at Ser Kaw Der village, Karen State Division 5 in Hpa-An district, opposite Thailand’s Tha Yong Yang.

Both sides used personal weapons as well as heavy arms to attack each other, leading to more than 80 Karen households, or some 588 people, fleeing from their villages of Ta Kaw Dell, Pa Kaw Khee and Pa Kaw Htar into the forest. They have already come close to the Thai border.

However, Third Army commander Lt-General Apichet Suesat, who is in charge of the northern region, said on Wednesday that the removal of the top leaders will not affect Thailand since what was happening in Myanmar was a purely internal affair.