Clashes escalated over the weekend when troops killed more than 30 people in two days of fighting that saw the military use helicopter gunships for the first time. Myanmar's army has tightly-controlled information about their operations in the region and denies reports from activists that troops are killing civilians, raping women and torching homes. The army statement said only 227 buildings had been burnt down and accused Rohingya "terrorist arsonists" of setting fire to houses in a bid to discredit the military. The statement, titled "Countering false news released by some news agencies in connection with area combing in Maungtaw area, Rakhine state," said army "officials are carrying out further scrutiny" of media reports. The swell of violence in Rakhine has posed the biggest challenge so far to Aung San Suu Kyi's government and raised questions over her civilian administration's ability to control the army.

Source: The Nation Bangkok November 15, 2016 06:11 UTC