Rebels shoot down Myanmar military plane

The jet crashed in Kayah state in eastern Myanmar, near the border with Thailand, on Saturday during fighting between the Myanmar military and the Karenni National Defense Force (KNDF), which said it shot down the plane.

Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun told state broadcaster MRTV that the plane crashed due to a technical problem, the pilots ejected safely and were in contact with the military.

Images of the incident were shared on Mizzima's Facebook. Photo: Mizzima

The incident comes as Myanmar's military is battling opposition forces on multiple fronts, as ethnic minority forces and anti-government militias wage an insurgency that security analysts say is being carried out with unprecedented levels of coordination.

Conflict in Shan state, in the northeast bordering China, has displaced at least 50,000 people, cut trade routes and seized several towns since an anti-government offensive launched by three ethnic minority rebel groups last month.

China has called on all parties to cease hostilities.

The rebel alliance said it had seized more than 100 army posts. Attacks on towns also took place in the Sagaing region of central Myanmar, west of Shan State.

Hundreds of foreign workers, many of whom human rights activists say are victims of human trafficking, are caught in the crossfire, including Thai citizens.

Thailand's foreign ministry said on Saturday that 200 of its citizens were awaiting evacuation "as soon as the situation allows".

The KNDF said on its Facebook page that it shot down the jet on Saturday using heavy machine guns and that KNDF members were searching for the pilots.

Mizzima news agency posted on its Facebook page images of what it said were the abandoned helmet and parachute of one of the pilots.

Mai Anh (according to Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/phe-noi-day-ban-roi-may-bay-cua-quan-doi-myanmar-post272116.html