The Karen National Union (KNU), a signatory to last year’s Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA), has been told to remove a checkpoint set up near a Thai-Burmese border crossing in Tenasserim Division, officially known as Tanintharyi.

On 23 June, the Tenasserim regional government sent a letter to the KNU demanding the removal of the “illegal checkpoint” operated by the group’s Brigade 4 near the border crossing at the village of Htee Kee.

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The area was under KNU control until the group reached a ceasefire agreement with the Burmese government in 2012.

KNU Brigade 4 commander Saw Bee Leh said the group will discuss the situation with the government at a meeting of the Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC) in Tavoy (Dawei) on 2 July.

“At the moment we cannot give any clear answer – we will be sitting for a JMC meeting on 2 July and will make an announcement after that,” said Saw Bee Leh.

He said the activity and trade flow at the border crossing has been business as usual.

Meanwhile, the Burmese army’s spokesperson, Col. Wunna Aung, said that government military authorities are communicating with the KNU on the issue, and hoped that it will be resolved.

The Htee Kee border crossing was opened by the Thai and Burmese governments in May 2013.