Karenni resistance forces have called off the search for inmates who escaped from a Karenni State Interim Executive Council (IEC) prison in Karenni (Kayah) State nearly two weeks ago, according to IEC Secretary 2 Banyar Khun Aung. With assistance from two prison guards, more than 80 prisoners escaped IEC Prison 2 in resistance-held Mese Township at around 1am on January 18, stealing nine firearms and fleeing towards the Thailand-Myanmar border. Telegram posts from users on pro-junta propaganda channels claimed on Tuesday that Thai authorities had transferred the Mese prison escapees to the custody of Myanmar’s military authorities, showing photos that seemed to confirm the handover. It was not a simple prison break.”There has been at least one other recent escape by prisoners of war before in Mese Township. Resistance forces continue to exercise full control over Mese and Shadaw townships in Karenni State.