Battle of Lay Kay Kaw

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]

16°36′N 98°32′E / 16.600°N 98.533°E / 16.600; 98.533