Attack by Myanmar's Kachin minority signals deepening crisis
Source: AP
YANGON, Myanmar (AP) Kachin guerrillas attacked a police outpost in northern Myanmar early Wednesday, local media reported, in an indication of the deepening involvement of ethnic minority armed forces in the countrys popular movement seeking to unseat the junta that seized power in February.
The action follows conflict in eastern Myanmar, where Karen guerrillas seized an army outpost Saturday and Myanmars military followed with airstrikes that killed about 10 villagers and drove thousands more across the border into Thailand.
After the airstrikes, the Karen National Union issued a statement from one of its armed units saying Myanmar military ground troops are advancing into our territories from all fronts and it may have to respond. The KNU is the main political body representing the Karen minority.
The conflict in eastern Myanmar expanded the crisis regionally, as an estimated 3,000 Karen took temporary shelter in neighboring Thailand. Thai authorities said Wednesday only about 200 remained in the country and were preparing to go back across the border.
Anti-coup protesters run to avoid military forces during a demonstration in Yangon, Myanmar on Wednesday March 31, 2021. The Southeast Asian nation has been wracked by violence since the military ousted a civilian-led government on February 1 and began to forcibly put down protests. (AP Photo)
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