Myanmar ethnic rebel alliance makes coordinated attacks

Ethnic rebels in Myanmar have staged coordinated attacks in five locations, including at a military academy outside normal combat zones, where a civilian was killed and a soldier wounded.

The Northern Alliance, a coalition of armed groups from the Kokang, Rakhine and Ta-ang, or Palaung, minorities, claimed responsibility for two attacks in Mandalay Region, where the Defense Services Technology Academy is located, and the others in Northern Shan state, where 14 people were reported killed.

The rebel alliance said they launched the attacks in self-defense because the Myanmar military didn’t stop offensive operations in areas under minority control.

A defense ministry statement acknowledged attacks in five places, and charged that they were carried out in retaliation for government raids on illicit drug operations.