Armed Myanmar intruders killed by Thai army

Armed Myanmar intruders killed by Thai army

MAE SOT, Thailand (AP): Four unidentified, armed intruders
from Myanmar were killed on Saturday in a gun battle with Thai
soldiers near the border between the two nations, Thai army
officers have said.

Fighting broke out after the soldiers came across about 10
armed intruders in a corn plantation just over the Thai side in
Tak province, 370 kilometers northwest of Bangkok.

The men were ordered to stop, but instead opened fire with a
grenade launcher, setting off a 15-minute exchange of fire.
Two Thai soldiers were wounded, and the other intruders fled back
to Myanmar, leaving their dead behind.

A Thai soldier who asked not to be identified said the dead
men were ethnic Karen, though he did not say to what group they
belonged.

There are two main ethnic Karen guerrilla groups in the area:
The Karen National Union, which fights against Myanmar's military
regime, and the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army, which is loosely
allied with the Myanmar government.