World

Myanmar armed ethnic groups claim key northern town

An armed alliance of ethnic minority groups in Myanmar claimed to have captured a northern town notorious for online scam operations

By AFP

January 07, 2024

BANGKOK: An armed alliance of ethnic minority groups in Myanmar claimed late Friday to have captured a northern town notorious for online scam operations in another blow to the embattled junta.

The military is facing its biggest threat since seizing power in a 2021 coup after three armed ethnic groups -- known as the Three Brotherhood Alliance -- launched a sweeping October offensive in northern Shan state.

A Myanmar military helicopter carries the national flag over a parade ground to mark the countrys Independence Day in Naypyidaw on January 4, 2023. — AFP — A Myanmar military helicopter carries the national flag over a parade ground to mark the country's Independence Day in Naypyidaw on January 4, 2023. — AFP

Since November people have been fleeing Laukkai town, located in a district bordering China that is run by a Myanmar military-aligned militia and notorious for gambling, prostitution and online scams run out of compounds staffed by thousands of people, many trafficked.

The alliance -- made up of the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), the Arakan Army (AA) and the Ta´ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) -- said the town was now under their control.