Military troops and police patrol Kayah state, eastern Myanmar. Kayah state, also known as Karenni state, is in eastern Myanmar along the border with Thailand and has an estimated population of 350,000-400,000. Villagers from the Karen minority south of Kayah fled to Thailand in March and April when they came under attack by Myanmar's military. Photo / APThe defence force is an outgrowth of the protest movement that began against military rule after the February takeover. The fighting in Kayah is believed to be the first in which a local defense force conducted joint operations with an ethnic guerrilla group.

Source: New Zealand Herald June 10, 2021 01:41 UTC