Mass Exodus to Thailand as Myanmar Conflict Escalates

Thousands of people have fled across the border to Thailand amid fierce fighting between Myanmar’s armed rebel groups and the military. The fighting near the border was concentrated near the town of Myawaddy in southern Karen state, bordering Thailand’s Tak province. Since the coup, some ethnic armed groups such as the Karen National Liberation Army, which have been fighting the armed forces for decades, have joined forces with anti-coup groups to try and force the generals from power. Myanmar’s military has used lethal force against its opponents, killing some 3,212 people according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners and jailing more than 17,000.