Anti-coup fighters attacked a government office in eastern Myanmar with rockets and grenades on Wednesday, killing over a dozen junta troops according to the rebels and local media.

Intense clashes between junta troops and "People's Defence Force" fighters have ravaged the capital of Kayah state in recent days, with the military calling in air and artillery strikes to support its ground troops.

Rebel fighters have taken over churches and homes in state capital Loikaw and also attacked a prison, a police source told AFP, as they dig in during fighting the UN estimates has displaced almost 90,000 people.

On Wednesday, several PDF groups attacked the district administration office and killed 15 junta troops in an hour-long battle, a spokesperson for one of the groups, the Karenni Democratic Front, told AFP.

Fighters had used grenades and rockets in the attack, according to the spokesperson who asked to remain anonymous, adding their forces had suffered no casualties.

"We are choosing urban war as we don't have enough heavy weapons and guns for big battles against the Burmese military."

Local media also reported the attack and said houses had been destroyed by junta shelling.

AFP could not confirm reports of the incident, or the casualty figures, which analysts say both sides likely inflate or play down.

Junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun told AFP he could not confirm Wednesday's clash, but added that PDF fighters had targeted the military's Loikaw headquarters and several other military posts in the town in recent days.

He was unable to provide any information on junta casualties.

Kayah state has seen clashes and bloody reprisals as rebels draw the military into a stalemate.

Over Christmas the bodies of at least 35 people -- including two Save the Children NGO workers -- were found burnt in Kayah state, an atrocity blamed on junta troops.

The military's power-grab 11 months ago expelled civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi's government and sparked mass protests and a subsequent crackdown that has killed more than 1,400 people according to a local monitoring group.

Related Links
Democracy in the 21st century at TerraDaily.com

Tweet

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

Indonesia passes law paving way for capital's move to Borneo
Jakarta (AFP) Jan 18, 2022
Indonesia's parliament on Tuesday passed a law approving the relocation of its capital from slowly sinking Jakarta to a site 2,000 kilometres (1,200 miles) away on jungle-clad Borneo island that will be named "Nusantara". The House of Representatives vote provides the legal framework for the move, which was first tipped by President Joko Widodo in April 2019, citing rising sea levels and severe congestion on densely populated Java island. Home to more than 30 million people in its greater metro ... read more