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Burma: armed groups stand up to the junta
Burma: armed groups stand up to the junta – (franceinfo)
In Burma, the Burmese junta opposes armed ethnic minority groups. Many young people are among these fighters, revolted by the junta’s coup in 2021.
Soldiers from the Karenni armies, a predominantly Christian ethnic group from eastern Burma, retook a region from the Burmese military in November, after intense fighting. “I am very happy to travel on this road, because it is our land. They had to give it back to us”, says Thi Ho, member of a commando. A ravaged land and houses that soldiers burned as they left.
Five military bases taken in one day
Among these fighters are many young people who joined ethnic armies, revolted by the junta’s coup in 2021. “I didn’t want to fight, but I had no choice”, confides Augustine, a 22-year-old history student. Their last prize of war is a police station and the 13 automatic pistols that were inside. Five police officers died and eleven eventually surrendered. On the same day in this region alone, five military bases were taken by the insurgents.
