Yangon (AFP)
At least 14 people were killed Thursday in eastern Burma in fighting between the army and rebel factions, who first attacked a military school.
Five attacks were perpetrated by ethnic guerrillas on Thursday morning at Pyin Oo Lwin, a tourist town near Mandalay that is home to several barracks. The military school was particularly targeted by rocket fire.
The army then fought back, launching operations against these groups.
The bodies of seven soldiers and four policemen were counted by an AFP reporter at a police station targeted by the attackers.
On another site, three other people, two soldiers and a civilian, were killed and the fighting "continues", said army spokesman Brigadier Zaw Min Tun.
The National Liberation Army Taaung (TNLA), one of the largest rebel groups in the north-east of the country, claimed responsibility for the actions, saying they had been carried out in retaliation for military operations.
"The army has launched offensives in our area and we are fighting to defend ourselves," said TNLA spokesman Mai Aik Kyaw.
The attacks were made in coordination with other guerrillas, the National Democratic Alliance of Myanmar (MNDAA) army and the Arakan (AA) army, he added.
"We think they were perpetrated because the Tatmadaw (name of the Burmese army) seized several tons of narcotics a few weeks ago," said Zaw Min Tun.
In July, Burma's armed forces raided drug laboratories in Shan State, a neighboring region, which seized hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine.
This area has become one of the largest producers in the world of this synthetic drug.
Drug money is fueling decades of conflict between the military and guerrillas and rebel groups, each trying to capture as much land and natural resources as possible. , many in this region.
Beijing's ambitions to invest in major infrastructure projects in this area are fueling the appetite of armed groups, who want to capture these growing territories.
© 2019 AFP