ICC Note:

Three civilians have been killed and 8 injured as Myanmar’s military ramps up their offensive against predominantly Christian ethnic groups in Shan state. The deaths happened during fighting between a separatist group and the military. Myanmar, while largely denying the conflict exists, has repeatedly targeted Christian churches and killed many civilians in what appears to be an attempt to drive out the ethnic groups altogether. The military has also prevented aid from reaching the thousands of displaced people, much like they did with the Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine state. Myanmar is predominantly Buddhist, and Christians and Muslims have experienced severe persecution that has only increased under the leadership of Nobel Peace Prize winner Aug San Suu Kyi.

12/28/2016 Myanmar (Radio Free Asia) – Three civilians were killed and eight others injured amid fighting between government forces and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) in Kyaukme township of volatile northern Shan state, a local official said Tuesday.

Those killed during the hostilities on Monday were all men, while the injured includes three children, two women and three monks, all of whom are being treated at Kyaukme hospital, said Shan state assembly legislator Sai Tun Nyan of the Shan Nationalities Democratic Party who represents the town of Kyaukme.

“We heard that three people who were killed were from the same family,” he told RFA’s Myanmar Service. “Their house was badly destroyed by heavy weapons as well.”

Both the government army and the TNLA have increased their troop strength in the area, signaling the possibility of more fighting, Sai Tun Nyan said.

…