Myanmar: Eight dead in army and militants’ clashes

Myanmar soldiers inspect the crater from a landmine explosion in Rakhine State during the latest flare-up of violence in the crisis-hit region (Source: AFP)

Hanoi (VNA) – At least eight people died in clashes between the Myanmar army and the supposed Rohingya Muslim militants, the local media said on November 13.

Skirmishes took place on November 12 in villages in the north of Rakhine, leaving one officer, one soldier, and six attackers dead. Meanwhile, 36 other people believed to be involved were arrested.

According to the Global New Light of Myanmar, about 60 attackers armed with guns, knives and spears ambushed government troops in the morning.

The army returned fire, but at one point asked for army choppers to reinforce because its troops were outnumbered, the paper said.

The north of Rakhine has been under military lockdown since surprise raids on border posts left nine police dead last month.

The religious tension between the majority Buddhist population and the Muslim Rohingya has raged through the region since 2012, leaving many dead while tens of thousands of people had to leave the homeland.-VNA