Clashes between Myanmar troops, Kachin rebels kill 31
YANGON, Myanmar — A state-run newspaper in Myanmar on Friday said recent battles between government troops and Kachin ethnic rebels had killed 31 people, as the ongoing fighting threatens the country's reform and reconciliation process.
The New Light of Myanmar reported 11 clashes in the last week of April, including what it said was an attack by rebels of the Kachin Independence Army on a government border guard base. It accused the rebel group of trying to seize the base "to save face for its declining military prestige."
It said 29 of the 31 dead were Kachin rebels, while government forces suffered two dead and 15 wounded. A separate report said that the Kachin had blown up parts of three bridges on Wednesday and Thursday.
Spokesmen for the Kachin were not immediately available to comment on the reports, which also claimed that their guerrillas had forced 345 villagers to serve as porters.
http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/World/20120504/myanmar-state-media-reports-deadly-clashes-with-kachin-rebels-120504/
