KAREN GUERRILLAS ATTACK JUNTA FORCES
Armed clashes broke out near Myanmar’s border with Thailand Tuesday between ethnic minority insurgents and junta forces, in some of the fiercest conflict seen since the Feb. 1 coup.
Karen guerrillas said they had captured a Myanmar army outpost after heavy fighting in response to a junta crackdown on pro-democracy protesters and ethnic minorities. In recent weeks, the regime has bombed Karen villages, forcing up to 25,000 to either seek refuge in Thailand or to hide in the surrounding jungle, according to Free Burma Rangers, an aid group. Fighting was also reported Tuesday in western Chin state near the border with India and Bangladesh where as many as 15 government soldiers were said to have been killed by a new militia that vowed to “inflict damage” on the junta, said Radio Free Asia.
The fresh conflict came as Myanmar’s generals said they would “positively” consider suggestions from the Association of South East Asian Nations, which called for talks with the country’s ousted civilian government.