Myanmar’s military has been fighting fierce clashes between the country’s ethnic minority rebels. Thousands of people have been displaced by the conflict between the military and the rebels in several states of the country. Ethnic minority insurgents attacked several camps of Myanmar’s security forces on Monday. The clash between the rebels and the security forces has spread to two new fronts. Thousands of people have crossed the border into India, according to local residents, rebel groups and government officials.
Myanmar’s military junta has recently faced its biggest crisis since coming to power in a coup in 2021. Members of the country’s three ethnic minority groups launched a coordinated attack against Junta forces late last month. They have already removed the security forces and taken over some towns and military camps.
Last week, the country’s military-appointed president said Myanmar was at risk of falling apart after failing to effectively tackle the insurgency. The country’s generals say they are fighting against ‘terrorists’.
The ethnic minority is a member of a coalition made up of three rebel groups
The Arakan Army (AA) has long been fighting security forces for greater autonomy in Myanmar’s western Rakhine state. Arakan Army Spokesperson Khaing Thu Kha said they have captured several military camps in an area of about 200 kilometers between Rakhine’s Rathedaung and Minbya areas.
“We have won some camps and fighting is going on in some other places,” he said.
A resident of Rathedaung said gunshots were heard in the early hours of Monday morning. Bombing was carried out there for several hours later. The military has blocked access to the area. Administrative buildings in Rathedaung have seen increased security.
Insurgents have also clashed with security forces in Myanmar’s Chin state, which borders India. Insurgents attacked two military camps, an Indian official and two sources familiar with the attack told Reuters.
James Lalrinchhana, deputy commissioner of a district in Mizoram bordering Myanmar, said that about 5,000 people have entered India’s Mizoram state to escape the conflict in Myanmar.
The state of China has been relatively quiet over the years compared to other parts of Myanmar. But after the 2021 coup, thousands of local residents took up arms against the military administration. A spokesman for Myanmar’s junta government was contacted for comment on the ongoing conflict but did not receive a response, Reuters reported.
