Clashes erupt in eastern Myanmar

08/11/2010| IslamWeb

At least three people have been killed in clashes between ethnic Karen fighters and government soldiers in eastern Myanmar, a day after the country held its first elections in 20 years.

Eleven more people were injured when gun and mortar fire hit the town of Myawaddy in Karen State on Monday, government officials told AFP news agency.

Al Jazeera's Marga Ortigas, reporting from the Thai border town of Mae Sot said that a stray rocket propelled grenade crossed into Thailand, injuring five people.

"The clashes appear to be between a faction linked to the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) and government-backed troops," she said.

"This faction has said it did not support the ceasefire the DKBA signed with the Myanmar government, and have reiterated that they want their own autonomy."

Thousands of refugees from Myanmar have crossed the border, and some say they fear government troops will shoot them for failing to vote on Sunday.

Zipporah Sein, the general secretary of the Karen National Union (KNU), said skirmishes broke out between up to 300 Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) soldiers and government forces.

"We don't know definitely but I think last night the army sent over more troops, they negotiated and the DKBA retreated but this morning they were blocked by army trucks and then it started," she said.

Tensions high

Zipporah Sein also said the fighting was currently contained in the town but added that if it spilled into surrounding areas, up to 500 DKBA troops and 900 KNU soldiers could join the battle.

The two movements are separate but both operate along Myanmar's strife-torn border with Thailand.

The clash follows a demonstration by the rebels over Sunday's election as well as attempts to force ethnic minority troops to join a border guard force - which would put them under state control.

A simmering civil war has wracked parts of Myanmar independence in 1948 and observers say the state's determination to crush ethnic rebels appeared to have increased as elections loomed.

Amid the first signs of what looks to be the first signs of post-election violence, Myanmar's military government meanwhile looks set to win the country's elections , as the ruling generals voted themselves back into power, amid opposition claims of intimidation and poll irregularities.

With no specific time given for the release of results, the election held on Sunday was widely criticized, with Western powers labeling the vote as a "missed opportunity".

However, some saw the poll as a small step towards democracy after almost five decades of military rule, with opposition parties confident of success in areas they did contest.

But with 25 per cent of the seats in parliament reserved for military appointees regardless of the outcome, the two main pro-military parties needed to win just 26 per cent of the remaining seats to secure a majority.

Despite the regime's unpopularity, its political proxy - the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), was expected to fare well, helped by huge financial and campaigning advantages as well as a climate of fear.

PHOTO CAPTION

A Myanmar refugee, who crossed over from Myanmar to Thailand when a battle erupted between Myanmar's soldiers and rebels, carries his relative at the Thai border town of Mae Sot November 8, 2010.

Agencies