Salween Network Urges Government to Negotiate Myanmar Safety Zone

The Salween River Basin People's Network has submitted letters to Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Sihaek Phungkaekaeo urging immediate negotiations with Myanmar to halt attacks on communities near the Salween River border and establish a safety zone.

On November 5, 2026, Satian Wichaiyong, coordinator of the Yuam-Ngao-Moei-Salween People's Network in Mae Hong Son province, revealed the network sent letters to the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister demanding urgent talks with Myanmar to stop attacks on border communities along the Salween River and create a safety zone.

The letters state that fighting in Myanmar along the Salween River opposite Mae Hong Son has seen the Myanmar military use fighter jets to bomb areas near border communities, causing tremors and sending shrapnel and hazardous debris onto the Thai side, damaging houses, shops, and a hospital, and threatening civilian safety.

The Salween Basin is rich in forests and natural resources and home to diverse ethnic communities whose livelihoods and culture are tied to the river and forests. These communities have preserved environmental wisdom across generations. People on both banks are relatives, friends, and descendants of this valuable waterway. Protecting communities from the impacts of war is vital for public safety, cross-border relations, and preserving the natural and cultural heritage of the Salween Basin.

The Yuam-Ngao-Moei-Salween People's Network, comprising residents living along the border, expresses deep concern. The impact goes beyond property and public health damage, creating fear and affecting mental health, especially among children and youth forced to live amid uncertainty and continuous conflict risk.

The network urgently requests the government to:

1. Immediately negotiate with Myanmar to cease attacks endangering civilians and border communities, and push for an agreement establishing a safety zone on the Myanmar side of the Salween River border in Mae Hong Son covering at least 10 kilometers from the Thai border into Myanmar, with a ban on all aerial attacks within this zone to ensure safety for border residents, plus a clear compliance monitoring mechanism. 2. Coordinate all parties to protect civilians, hospitals, schools, community shelters, and public utilities from attacks, and develop a community protection plan for the Thai side including early warning systems, evacuation areas, and evacuation plans accounting for children, elderly, patients, and people with disabilities. 3. Review border crossing closures and travel restrictions on the Salween River by consulting affected communities, as the river is a crucial route for travel, consumer goods transport, and patient transfers, while maintaining channels for humanitarian aid and continuous medical access. 4. Expedite damage assessments and provide comprehensive assistance to affected civilians, including house and hospital repairs, care for the injured, and mental health restoration, especially for children and youth, with designated responsible agencies and clear funding channels.