Kokang Fighting: Red Cross Workers Killed, Karen General Accuse Burma Army of Ethnic Cleansing

Tuesday this week, a convoy of trucks carrying the Myanmar Red Cross Society signs were attacked by unknown and two workers killed. The killing has outrages international governments and in media reports the US expressed its deep concern over the attack.

The attack follows intense fighting that broke out on February 9 and it is reported that 47 Burma Army have been killed and 26 of the Kokang militia also known as the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA). Civilians fleeing the fighting are estimated to be in the tens of thousands.

The Myanmar government has now declared a state of emergency in the region. General Nerdah Bo Mya, head of the Karen National Defence Force expressed his outrage to Karen News at the Burma government and called for the Burma Army to stop its operations against civilians.

“The arbitrary killings are carried out by the Burma Army. This what we call ethnic cleansing, the Army must stop its killing now. The Burma Army are persecuting a war against humanity.”

The Chinese government also expressed their concern, fearing the fighting will send thousands of refugees across its border as happened in 2009. In response to the fighting the Chinese government has increased its border patrols.

The fighting between government forces and the Kokang saw tens of thousands refugees cross into southwestern China.