Thousands Flee Post-Election Fighting in Burma

[CrazyExpat]

Thousands of people in eastern Burma have fled into neighboring Thailand to escape fighting between an ethnic militia and the Burmese military that erupted just one day after the military-ruled country's first elections in 20 years - dismissed by critics as a sham.

At least 3,000 people poured over Burma's eastern border into Mae Sot, Thailand, on Monday, after members of the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army and Burma's military clashed in the town of Myawaddy, just across from Mae Sot.

Hundreds of the men, women, and children crossed over the Moei River dividing the two countries and were given refuge in a Buddhist temple.

Bamyar Htaw lives in Myawaddy, but says he crossed over from Burma after hearing gunfire and seeing a man on a motorcycle get shot. Burmese soldiers do not like the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army, he says, so that is why they exchanged gunfire. He adds that he no longer feels safe to live there.

http://www.voanews.com/english/news/Thousands-Flee-into-Thailand-to-Escape-Fighting-in-Burma-106875904.html