violence

A group of defectors from the pro-junta Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) have taken control of major border crossing and military and police posts in eastern Burma.
The head of the faction, Brig-Gen Na Kham Mwe, told DVB that the group had seized the Thai-Burma Friendship Bridge entrance in Karen state’s Myawaddy, as well as police, army and intelligence offices.
“They [Burmese army] announced that they will shoot people who don’t vote [in today’s elections]. So people called on us to seize the town,” he said.

UPDATE:
Thai District Authorities have said approximately 12,000 refugees have fled across the border.

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Bombings confirmed in Myawaddy, Karen State; some bombs have also hit the Thai side of the border - several people have seriously injured on the border.

Fighting has broken out between the 5th Brigade of the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army. DKBA is a ceasefire ethnic armed group. DKBA 5th Brigade is a breakaway faction of the DKBA that has refused to join the SPDC in its Border Guard Force.

BACKGROUND (credit: DVB)

DKBA Brigade 5 seized the town at around midday on Sunday.

At 6 pm DKBA released 3 SPDC captains after negotiations. Around 11pm, the SPDC started sending backup troops, leading to an increase in tensions.

Background (Credit: DVB)

The head of the faction, Brig-Gen Na Kham Mwe, told DVB that the group had seized the Thai-Burma Friendship Bridge entrance in Karen state’s Myawaddy, as well as police, army and intelligence offices.

“They [Burmese army] announced that they will shoot people who don’t vote [in today’s elections]. So people called on us to seize the town,” he said.

Eyewitnesses report bombings in Myawaddy - the border town where recent fighting has broken out between the DKBA (5th Brigade) and the SPDC army troops. They report villagers are fleeing the violence to cross the border into Thailand.

The Royal Thai Army has already confirmed that one RPG has already been fired.

The Democratic Karen Buddhist Army is a ceasefire Karen ethnic army. DKBA 5th Brigade is a breakaway faction of the DKBA that has refused to join the SPDC

After the SPDC sent an increased number of toops to Myawaddy. The DKBA (5th Brigade) has already taken over the town, and it seems people support them. Shooting has already started between the two sides at 9:30am. The civilians have already dug up trenches to hide from the shooting/crossfire. DKBA troops are all wearing white scarves to identify each other.

On October 26th, in Young Dein village, Khow Zar Sub-Township, Ye Township, a villager was beaten by the Village Peace and Development Council (VPDC) chairman for helping organize the All Mon Region Democracy Party’s (AMRDP) campaign in the area. He has now been sent to the Ye Township hospital.

The VPDC chairman, Nai Ba Din, and the people’s militia beat Nai Ba Shin who was helping organize for the AMRDP in the upcoming elections.

Tensions are high in Arakan State as the pro-junta Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) seeks to marginalize the ethnic Rohingya party, the National Democratic Party for Development (NDPD), which is competing in the Nov. 7 election in several constituencies with high Muslim populations in the state.