Battle of Lay Kay Kaw | |||||||
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Part of the Myanmar civil war (2021–present) and internal conflict in Myanmar | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Karen National Union People's Defense Force | State Administration Council | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
Unknown | Unknown | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
At least 4 killed | At least 5 killed[1] | ||||||
At least 30 people arrested; at least 1500 displaced in Thailand[2] |
The Battle of Lay Kay Kaw was an engagement between allied Karen National Union/ People's Defense Force fighters and the Myanmar Tatmadaw that began on 14 December 2021.
Shortly after negotiations between the KNU and the Tatmadaw,[3] Lay Kay Kaw was built in 2015 as a cooperation between the then-chief minister of Kayin State, Zaw Min, and KNU's chairperson, Saw Mutu Say Poe, with the support of Nippon Foundation,[4] [5] Divided into six quarters, it has a population of more than 3000.[6] Despite administration of the Kayin State Government, the town has been controlled de facto[7] by the KNU for six years.[8]
Since the February 2021 coup, anti-coup protesters and those who joined the civil disobedience movement came to Lay Kay Kaw to evade the military and receive guerrilla training.[9][10]
On 14 December 2021, the Tatmadaw raided Lay Kay Kaw, arresting dozens of former NLD members and other anti-regime activists.[11] [12]
Days after the raid, the KNLA and PDF forces clashed with Myanmar Army troops, who resorted to airstrikes and heavy artillery.[13] Due to these strikes, at least 2500 local villagers[14][15] fled to Mae Sot, border town in Thailand.[16] After a shell landed in a sugarcane plantation, and a small fire broke out, Thai authorities, through Thai–Myanmar Border Committee, issued a warning that "it was prepared to retaliate if stray artillery shells landed on Thai soil",[7][17] and Thai armed forces were deployed in the border area.[18] On 20 December, KNU urged the UN and international community to establish the area as a no-fly zone.[19]
Sometime during late 2022, the Myanmar junta captured the town. However, by 31 March 2024, anti-junta forces retook Lay Kay Kaw.[20]