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Several dead Myanmar forces were fighting with people in the delta region Myanmar News

State media say the riots in the village of Ayeyarwady region have resulted in three deaths, while local media have killed 20 civilians.

In the Ayeyarwady River delta region, clashes between Myanmar’s security forces and people armed with catapults and crossbows have left at least three dead, state media said – although local media reported that 20 people were killed.

State television news reports that three “terrorists” were killed and two arrested on Saturday in the village of Hlayswe, on the verge of arresting a man accused of security forces plotting against the state.

A spokesman for the military government did not respond to calls from Reuters to ask for an opinion on the violence in the municipality of Ayeyarwady Kyonpyaw. Reuters was unable to confirm the toll independently.

Myanmar is in chaos and its economy has stalled since the military ousted Aung San Suu Kyi’s government in February, citing allegations of unproven fraud in the 2020 elections.

The clashes began early Saturday in the city of Hlayswe, 150 kilometers northwest of the main city of Yangon, when soldiers said they had come in search of weapons, at least four local media outlets and a resident said.

“People in the village just have a crossbow and there are a lot of dead people on the side of the people,” the neighbor said, asking that they not be identified for fear of retaliation.

Khit Thit Media and Delta News Agency say 20 more civilians have been killed and injured. Citizens said they tried to fight the catapults after the soldiers attacked the neighbors.

MRTV state television said security forces attacked with compressed air guns and darts. After the shooting, the bodies of three assailants were found, he said.

If confirmed, the toll provided by local media would be the highest in almost two months in a day.

Local ‘defense forces’

About 845 people have been killed by the army and police since the February coup, according to an activist group. The military government is questioning that figure.

Several communities across Myanmar – especially in municipalities that have seen large numbers of police dead in protests – have formed local “defense forces”.

But they are often more often than not in the clashes with the Myanmar military and are one of the toughest and wildest battles in Southeast Asia.

Since the coup, conflicts have also erupted in border territories, with some twelve ethnic states fighting for decades.

The Shwegu People’s Military Defense Force said late Friday that it attacked the northern Shwegu police station along with the Kachin Independence Army (KIA).

Reuters was unable to comment on KIA.

In eastern Myanmar, the MBPDF (Mobye People Defense Force) said it clashed with the army on Friday and killed four “terrorist soldiers”.

Protesters against Myanmar’s military government burn the flag of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Mandalay, Myanmar [Reuters]

Despite the confusion, the Myanmar army has shown little sign that its opponents have responded to calls for surrender.

This week the military government receives the first high-level foreign visitors – the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross and both ASEAN envoys.

Demonstrators in Myanmar’s second city of Mandalay on Saturday burned an ASEAN flag and accused the group of giving legitimacy to military rule.




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