Myanmar Military Launches Air Raid, 3 Thousands Of People In Ethnic Armed Areas Fled

Warga Myanmar shared a new photo. (Sumber: @simsakasa via Twitter / @ Jaw Tu Hkawng)

JAKARTA - The Myanmar military regime launched air raids on the territory of the armed ethnic Karen National Union (KNU) on Sunday, March 28 in response to attacks on several headquarters of the Myanmar military regime forces.

More than 3,000 villagers from the Mutraw (Hpapun) district of Karen state fled their homes on Sunday following a series of Myanmar military airstrikes, according to local sources.

“Some fled to Thailand, some to the forest. They heard rumors that more fighter jets will come at night, "said a villager living near the Ei Tu Hta internally displaced persons (IDP) camp, which is located on the Thai-Myanmar border, reported Myanmar Now.

There are more than 2,400 refugees in the Ei Tu Hta camp, while another 5,000 live along the banks of the Salween River, which separates Myanmar and Thailand.

Villagers fled after Myanmar's military armed forces launched airstrikes near Kho Kay and other villages in the area at around 3 pm on Sunday. Sources said no casualties were reported in Kho Kay. However, the situation in other villages is unclear because internet and telephone services were cut off at the time of the attack.

The attack came after troops from the ethnic KNU armed Brigade 5 stormed Myanmar military base Thee Mu Hta on Saturday morning, capturing at least eight soldiers.

"The military launched two airstrikes on Sunday, first at 8 pm and the second at 11:30 pm", said a KNU official.

DVB, a local news outlet, reported that three villagers were killed while seven others were seriously injured in the attack on Saturday. The attacks carried out by the Myanmar military also made residents dig holes for protection from the air raids that were launched.

As of yesterday, the death toll from Myanmar's military coup since February 1 reached 459, according to data from the Political Prisoners Assistance Association (AAPP) as reported by Reuters.

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.