Latest news with #KarenNationalLiberationArmy
The Star
15-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
400 flee to Thailand as Myanmar rebels strike junta base
People walk past destroyed buildings following Myanmar military airstrikes in Kyauktaw town in Myanmar's western Rakhine State on May 15, 2025. - Photo: AFP/STR BANGKOK: More than 400 Myanmar people fled across the Thai border on Thursday (May 15) as ethnic minority armed groups bombarded a junta base with drones, the kingdom's armed forces said. Myanmar's military sparked a civil war, seizing power in a 2021 coup and now battling an array of pro-democracy guerrillas and ethnic minority armed groups which have long been active in the country's fringes. Much of the fighting has focused on control of border crossings where combatants can fill their war chests by running lucrative toll gates controlling trade and smuggling routes. Thailand's military said the Karen National Liberation Army and the Karen National Defence Organisation "used unmanned aerial drones to launch a bombing attack" on a junta border base around 4.45am (2145 GMT Wednesday). "414 displaced people from Myanmar fled across to the Thai side", near Mae La in Tak province, around 250 miles (400 kilometres) northwest of Bangkok, a statement said. They have been housed in a nearby temple and monastery while Thai troops have stepped up border patrols, the statement added. Armed organisations recruiting from the Karen ethnic group have been active for decades and have emerged as key challengers to the junta holding control over border crossings with Thailand. Myanmar's civil war has caused huge waves of population displacement, with 81,000 refugees or asylum seekers from the country currently living in Thailand, according to United Nations figures. - AFP
CNA
15-05-2025
- Politics
- CNA
400 flee to Thailand as Myanmar rebels strike junta base
BANGKOK: More than 400 Myanmar people fled across the Thai border on Thursday (May 15) as ethnic minority armed groups bombarded a junta base with drones, the kingdom's armed forces said. Myanmar's military sparked a civil war, seizing power in a 2021 coup and now battling an array of pro-democracy guerrillas and ethnic minority armed groups which have long been active in the country's fringes. Much of the fighting has focused on control of border crossings where combatants can fill their war chests by running lucrative toll gates controlling trade and smuggling routes. Thailand's military said the Karen National Liberation Army and the Karen National Defence Organisation "used unmanned aerial drones to launch a bombing attack" on a junta border base around 4:45 am (6.15am, Singapore time). "414 displaced people from Myanmar fled across to the Thai side", near Mae La in Tak province, around 400km northwest of Bangkok, a statement said. They have been housed in a nearby temple and monastery while Thai troops have stepped up border patrols, the statement added. Armed organisations recruiting from the Karen ethnic group have been active for decades and have emerged as key challengers to the junta holding control over border crossings with Thailand. Myanmar's civil war has caused huge waves of population displacement, with 81,000 refugees or asylum seekers from the country currently living in Thailand, according to United Nations figures.
New Straits Times
15-05-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Over 400 flee to Thailand as Myanmar rebels strike junta base
BANGKOK: More than 400 Myanmar people fled across the Thai border on Thursday as ethnic minority armed groups bombarded a junta base with drones, the kingdom's armed forces said. Myanmar's military sparked a civil war, seizing power in a 2021 coup and now battling an array of pro-democracy guerrillas and ethnic minority armed groups which have long been active in the country's fringes. Much of the fighting has focused on control of border crossings where combatants can fill their war chests by running lucrative toll gates controlling trade and smuggling routes. Thailand's military said the Karen National Liberation Army and the Karen National Defence Organisation "used unmanned aerial drones to launch a bombing attack" on a junta border base around 4.45am (2145 GMT Wednesday). "414 displaced people from Myanmar fled across to the Thai side", near Mae La in Tak province, around 250 miles (400 kilometres) northwest of Bangkok, a statement said. They have been housed in a nearby temple and monastery while Thai troops have stepped up border patrols, the statement added. Armed organisations recruiting from the Karen ethnic group have been active for decades and have emerged as key challengers to the junta holding control over border crossings with Thailand. Myanmar's civil war has caused huge waves of population displacement, with 81,000 refugees or asylum seekers from the country currently living in Thailand, according to United Nations figures.--AFP
Free Malaysia Today
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Hundreds flee across Thai border after attack on Myanmar army
Myanmar has been mired in civil conflict since a military coup in 2021. (The Arakan Army/AP pic) BANGKOK : More than 300 Myanmar people fled into Thailand to seek refuge following an assault on the military by ethnic armed groups, Thailand said today, days after the junta extended a post-earthquake ceasefire. Myanmar has been mired in civil conflict since a military coup in 2021, with the junta battling a coalition of ethnic armed organisations and pro-democracy resistance forces. Yesterday's attack by the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and its allied Karen National Defence Organisation (KNDO) targeted a military base in Kayin state, about 2.5km from the Thai border, according to the Thai military. 'The attack involved a close-range encirclement of the base and the use of armed drones to continuously drop explosives throughout the day,' a statement said. By today, 327 Myanmar nationals had crossed into Thailand and were sheltering in two temporary sites, including a temple, with Thai military and police providing security and humanitarian aid, officials said. Thai forces have ramped up patrols along the border in Tak province to prevent what officials described as a potential 'breach of sovereignty by foreign armed forces'. Myanmar's military government and various armed groups opposed to it announced a ceasefire after the March 28 quake to help relief and recovery efforts. The truce has been repeatedly broken by air strikes by the junta and attacks by armed groups. The magnitude-7.7 quake near the central city of Mandalay killed nearly 3,800 and left tens of thousands homeless.
The Star
08-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Hundreds flee across Thai border after attack on Myanmar military
By May 8, 2025, a total of 327 Myanmar nationals had crossed into Thailand and were sheltering in two temporary sites. - Photo: EPA-EFE BANGKOK: More than 300 Myanmar people fled into Thailand to seek refuge following an assault on the military by ethnic armed groups, Thailand said Thursday (May 8), days after the junta extended a post-earthquake ceasefire. Myanmar has been mired in civil conflict since a military coup in 2021, with the junta battling a coalition of ethnic armed organisations and pro-democracy resistance forces. Wednesday's attack by the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and its allied Karen National Defence Organisation (KNDO) targeted a military base in Kayin state, about 2.5 kilometres (1.5 miles) from the Thai border, according to the Thai military. "The attack involved a close-range encirclement of the base and the use of armed drones to continuously drop explosives throughout the day," a statement said. By Thursday, 327 Myanmar nationals had crossed into Thailand and were sheltering in two temporary sites, including a temple, with Thai military and police providing security and humanitarian aid, officials said. Thai forces have ramped up patrols along the border in Tak province to prevent what officials described as a potential "breach of sovereignty by foreign armed forces". Myanmar's military government and various armed groups opposed to it announced a ceasefire after the March 28 quake to help relief and recovery efforts. The truce has been repeatedly broken by air strikes by the junta and attacks by armed groups. The magnitude-7.7 quake near the central city of Mandalay killed nearly 3,800 and left tens of thousands homeless. - AFP
