Bombs explode near Thailand-Myanmar border, injuring at least 3
A series of bombs exploded near the Thailand-Myanmar border last night, injuring at least three people. At least five explosions, which took place in the city centre of Myanmar’s Tachileik province, were reported to have occurred near the headquarters of Myanmar’s pro-junta Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP). Thai media reported that the injuries were not serious.
Thailand and Myanmar’s border security officials said that the first explosion occurred at around 9.45pm behind the house of the headman of Maka Hua Kham Village. The United Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) office is located in the village, about 2 kilometres from the Thai border.
About five minutes later, three more bombs went off along Road No. 4, Tachilek-Taunggyi road in the village, Thai Rath reported. At around 11.30pm, another explosion occurred near the same point.
Police officers and soldiers in Tachileik Province were mobilised to inspect the area. It was reported that the bomb was improvised or was remotely triggered. It is still unknown who exactly is responsible for the bombs, however, it is thought to be the work of the People’s Defense Forces (PDF), a group which opposes the Myanmar military junta.
This news comes after the Thailand-Myanmar border crossing just reopened last week after being closed for over three years due to the Covid-19 crisis.
Following Myanmar’s coup in February 2021, the country has plunged into chaos. Myanmar’s many ethnic minorities have formed armed groups fighting for their ethnic groups’ autonomy ever since the country gained independence in 1948.
In October last year, a double bombing hit the Thailand-Myanmar border area. The bombs detonated near the Thai-Myanmar Friendship bridge, over the border from Thailand’s Mae Sot district in Tak province.
The first bomb exploded at the Myawaddy-Mae Sot border checkpoint. The bomb damaged a car. Shortly after the explosion, the second bomb went off at Bayinnaung Market, about 1 kilometre away from the checkpoint.
