Security forces, ethnic army clash near Myanmar-Bangladesh border

Yangon, March 30: Heavy fighting between security forces and the Arakan ethnic army occurred near the Myanmar-Bangladesh border. The fighting came a day ahead of the resumption of the seventh round of peace talks between the Myanmar government and ethnic armed groups’ negotiators in Yangon after a week’s recess, Xinhua reported on Monday, citing the state media Union Daily. During the clashes on Sunday, shells were fired at the government’s military camp, forcing the troops to abandon the camp and retreat.

One army officer was abducted, and another soldier was killed. The latter’s weapons were seized. The Arakan army is described as one of the few armies which has helped the Kokang ethnic army in its fight with the government forces. The Myanmar military has claimed total control of the Kokang region in Shan state after a series of heavy clashes which erupted on February 9. (IANS)