Myanmar’s Deputy Commander-in-Chief, General Kyaw Swar Lin, has vowed to eliminate People’s Defense Forces (PDFs) operating along the Ye–Dawei–Myeik–Bokpyin–Kawthaung Union Highway, stressing that securing the area is essential for the implementation of the Russia-backed Dawei Deep-Sea Port project in Yebyu Township, Tanintharyi Region.
Speaking during separate meetings with military personnel and their families at the Myeik and Kyunsu cantonments on Wednesday, the deputy military chief stated that resistance forces active along the strategic transport corridor must be effectively “wiped out” to ensure the security of the project and key transportation routes in the region.
Military analyst and former army captain Zin Yaw noted that the general’s travel itinerary suggests preparations for expanded military operations in southern Myanmar.
“It is unusual that, upon entering the Coastal Region Command area, he did not prioritize visiting the regional headquarters but instead focused on Bokpyin, which hosts Military Operations Command (MOC) 13,” Zin Yaw said. “This indicates that large-scale military operations in the coastal region may be planned following the conclusion of his visit.”
The remarks come as Russia prepares to revive the Dawei Deep-Sea Port project, which has remained stalled for nearly 18 years. During the first week of June, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in Russia between Inter RAO, a major Russian energy company, and the Launglon Economic Development Company to develop a coal-fired power plant as part of the broader Dawei project.
Security around the project area has been significantly reinforced in recent weeks. The Tanintharyi regional administration recently appointed a new Minister for Security and Border Affairs, while reports indicate that approximately four military battalions have been deployed to protect the Dawei Deep-Sea Port zone.
The increased military presence comes amid frequent clashes between junta forces and local resistance groups along the Ye–Dawei–Myeik–Bokpyin–Kawthaung corridor, a route considered strategically important for both military logistics and future infrastructure development.
Photo Caption: Resistance forces conduct vehicle inspections along the Ye–Dawei section of Union Highway No. 8 in 2024. (Photo: Dawna Column)
