Conflicts & War

4 soldiers, 2 police killed in clashes with anti-junta militants in Myanmar

Bangkok, May 22 (EFE).- Armed civilian protesters in Myanmar have killed four soldiers and two police officers over the last 24 hours, according to local media.

The southeast Asian country has been gripped by violence since the military coup on 1 February.

Myanmar Now reported that one Myanmar soldier died in a gunfight with anti-junta protesters in Yangon, the largest city. Another two police officers were killed by explosives.

Another three soldiers were killed Friday in clashes with militants from the so-called People’s Defense Force, which is backed by the Karenni Army, an ethnic guerilla group, in western Kayah state, The Irrawaddy reported.

Protesters have taken place on an almost daily basis since the military coup, which ousted de facto civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Myanmar’s security forces have launched a brutal crackdown on the protests, killing over 800 since February, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners. The junta is led by general Min Aung Hlaing.

As well as protests, strikes and civil disobedience movements, the unrest has given rise to militias as some groups of civilians take up arms against the junta.

Some of the bloodiest outbreaks of violence have been taking place in the city of Mindat, in the northeast, where the Burmese armed forces have launched airstrikes against anti-junta militias and civilian infrastructure.

The United Nations on Friday said it was alarmed by the reports of violence in China state, where Mindat is located.

“We urge everyone involved to facilitate the delivery of relief by the United Nations and all humanitarian partners,” it said in a statement.

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