Myanmar tribes capture military outpost after heavy fighting close to Thai border

Video: https://www.dropbox.com/s/va5g9hm2zcxd5yo/VRP27395.mp4?dl=0

Myanmar tribes captured a military outpost after heavy fighting close to the border of northern Thailand today (April 27).

The army of the Karen National Union (KNU) attacked and burned the base used by Burmese soldiers opposite a crossing into Mae Hong Son province shortly after 4 am.

Two Karen soldiers were reportedly injured but they were successful in capturing the stronghold, where they can get mobile phone signals and Internet connections.

Burmese military chiefs retaliated with aerial fine on a KNU base in Hpapun district, sending villages fleeing to the border with Thailand in search of safety.

Burmese soldiers have set up around 81 military bases in Karen state, 18 located near the Salween river and three located on the opposite of Thai villages.

There was a report that one of Thais was injured and 300 residents in Ban Huai Kong Kad village had to be evacuated from their houses and grouped at a school.

Unrest started after leader Aung San Suu Kyi was toppled with a military coup on February 1. Separatist groups have since used the widespread unrest to rebel against the military.

Rights groups believe more than 739 civilians have been killed in violent crackdowns lead by the army against the protests, which spread across Myanmar.

Myanmar military chief Min Aung Hlaing travelled to Indonesia to participate in a Southeast Asia summit on April 24 and was urged by leaders and foreign ministers of other countries in the region to stop the violence and start negotiations.