Violence in Myanmar sends thousands fleeing into Thailand

[reader]

From Radio Free Asia / The Thaiger

Photo via Twitter @akmoe2

Thousands of refugees fled across the Moei River from Myanmar into temporary shelters in Tak province, northern Thailand, after a resurgence of violence between Myanmar’s military and rebel groups.

KhaoSod reports that as many as 8,000 people have sought refuge in Tak’s Mae Sot and Mae Ramat districts, whereas the Bangkok Post reports that the number is more than 5,000.

Clashes erupted on Wednesday when fighters from the Karen National Liberation Army, an ethnic rebel group, attacked two military-backed Border Guard Force (BGF) strongholds about 10 kilometres north of the China-backed Shwe Kokko new city project – about 3 kilometres from the Thai border. KhaoSod reports that soldiers from the People’s Defence Force (PDF) also battled against BGF soldiers.

Shwe Kokko is the site of a Chinese-backed US$15 billion real estate and casino mega-project notorious for illegal activity and drug trafficking, reports Radio Free Asia.

 

Intense violence displaced thousands of residents in Myanmar who took little to no belongings with them as they either boarded boats or waded through waist-deep water to cross the river into Thailand.

Yesterday, soldiers from the Thai military’s Ratchamanu Task Force, government officials, police officers, and volunteers took food, drinking water, and medicine to provide immediate assistance to refugees in Mae Sot and Mae Ramat amid the sweltering heat.

Reports say that the sound of gunfire and explosions could be heard from communities on the Thai side of the Moei River. KhaoSod reports that violence had not stopped at noon yesterday, whereas RadioFreeAsia reports that a resident in Myawaddy said that fighting had calmed down by yesterday morning.

[Ruthrieston]

With the world focused on the criminal attack on the Ukraine there is almost no mention of the appalling military junta which is massacring huge numbers of people in Myanmar. Yet more crimes against innocent people.

[Moses]

What we reading here:
- ethnic rebel group - Karen National Liberation Army - attacked two military-backed Border Guard Force (BGF) strongholds
- as result Intense violence displaced thousands of residents in Myanmar who took little to no belongings with them as they either boarded boats or waded through waist-deep water to cross the river into Thailand

So question:

4 hours ago, Ruthrieston said:

the appalling military junta which is massacring huge numbers of people

Why here is mentioned "junta"?
"Rebels" Karen National Liberation Army - radical nationalistic movement with terroristic methods existed since 1949 (hello UK, it is result of your ruling in Burma, KNLA has roots in formerly army officers of British Burma). KNLA attacks state army since 1949. With junta on the top of country or with civilian govt, KNLA attacks anyway.

 

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