YANGON, Myanmar – Violence in post-coup Myanmar has escalated as anti-junta “self-defence” forces step up to take on the military, a report said Monday, warning of an “enormous” human cost if the regime uses its full power in subsequent crackdowns. In response, the military has used helicopters and artillery, including against groups in northwestern Chin state and along the eastern border with Thailand. “Faced with armed insurrection, the Tatmadaw [the Myanmar military] can be expected to unleash its military might against civilians,” the International Crisis Group said Monday. The self-defence groups add to the volatile mix in the poor Southeast Asian country, where more than 20 ethnic rebel groups were already in various stages of the conflict with the state before the coup. But last week, at least six people died in a gun battle between security forces and a self-defence group in the country’s second city of Mandalay.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer June 27, 2021 23:03 UTC