13-11-2023 (YANGON) A Myanmar fighter jet met with disaster during intense clashes between the military and the Karenni Nationalities Defence Force (KNDF) in Kayah State, eastern Myanmar, near the Thai border on Saturday (Nov 11). Both conflicting parties reported the incident, adding another layer of complexity to the junta’s struggle against the most significant challenge to its authority since the 2021 coup.
According to the KNDF, it successfully brought down the jet, while junta spokesperson Zaw Min Tun insisted that the crash resulted from a technical glitch. He assured the public that the pilots had ejected safely and were in contact with the military.
This incident unfolds against the backdrop of Myanmar’s military confronting opposition forces on various fronts. Ethnic minority forces and anti-junta militias are orchestrating a rebellion marked by an unparalleled level of coordination, posing a formidable challenge to the military regime.
The junta’s concerns about the nation potentially fracturing have escalated. In Shan State, located in the northeast bordering China, conflict has displaced over 50,000 people. An anti-junta offensive launched by three ethnic minority insurgent groups last month has severed trade routes and led to the capture of several towns. China has called for an end to hostilities in the region.
The insurgent alliance claims to have seized more than 100 army posts, with assaults on towns extending to Sagaing region in central Myanmar, west of Shan State. Amidst the chaos, hundreds of foreign workers, including citizens of Vietnam and Thailand, are trapped in the conflict zone. Rights activists contend that many of them are victims of human trafficking.
The Thai foreign ministry disclosed that 200 of its nationals are awaiting evacuation at the earliest opportunity when the situation allows. Meanwhile, the KNDF, via its Facebook page, asserted responsibility for downing the fighter jet using heavy machine guns and announced its efforts to locate the ejected pilots.
The gravity of the situation is underscored by images posted on news outlet Mizzima’s Facebook page, purporting to show the abandoned helmet and parachute of one of the pilots. Reuters could not independently verify this information, highlighting the challenges of reporting amidst the ongoing conflict in Myanmar.
အကြမ်းဖက် စစ်ကောင်စီတိုက်လေယာဉ်၏ အပျက်အစီးများကို ယနေ့ တွေ့ရှိပြီဖြစ်
“The victory is near; the jet fighter belonging to Myanmar’s brutal military junta has been completely destroyed by the freedom fighters from the brave people of Myanmar. This is proof that tyranny will be… pic.twitter.com/u7tWh7Px9o— Dr. Sasa (@DrSasa22222) November 13, 2023
