Ethnic Armed KIA Claims Shot Down Of Myanmar Military Helicopter

JAKARTA - The Kachin Independence Army (KIA), one of the most powerful armed ethnic groups in Myanmar, said it managed to shoot down a Myanmar military helicopter in a retaliatory strike against air strikes, Monday May 3.

Head of the KIA Information Department Colonel Naw Bu said the helicopter was shot down at around 10:20 am in a village near the town of Moemauk, in Kachin province.

"The military council launched air strikes on the area from around 8 or 9 this morning, using fighter jets and also firing using helicopters. So we fired back at them," he said by telephone. He declined to say what weapon was used.

News portals MizzimaDaily and Kachinwaves also reported the crash of the helicopter alongside photos showing smoke rising from the ground.

A resident in the area, who declined to be named, said by telephone, four people had died in hospital after artillery shells hit a monastery in the village.

Reuters was unable to independently verify the report and a Myanmar military spokesman did not answer phone calls seeking comment.

The United Nations estimates tens of thousands of civilians have fled their homes as a result of fighting between the military and ethnic minority rebels in the remote northern and eastern border region. The conflict escalated after Myanmar generals seized power on February 1, overthrowing the elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi.

Launching The Irrawaddy, until Sunday evening, at least 764 protesters were killed and more than 3,500 people detained by the Myanmar military regime since the February 1 coup.

Myanmar Coup. The VOI editorial team continues to monitor the political situation in one of the ASEAN member countries. Casualties from civilians continue to fall. Readers can follow the news surrounding the Myanmar military coup by tapping on this link.