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Burma admits air strikes on Kachin rebels


An MI24 helicopter gunship allegedly firing rockets on Kachin rebels on the 28th December 2012.
Photograph:
Free Burma Rangers

The Burmese government has admitted that they have carried out airstrikes and helicopter raids on Kachin rebels, as violence continues to escalate in the northern region.

The Telegraph reported that, Burmese government negotiator and adviser to President, Hla Maung Shwe had said,

"We heard the military used helicopters and training jets while trying to get their camp back,"

The statement comes as the BBC broadcast images they received from the aid group free Burma Rangers, which shows jet strikes and helicopters firing on rebel positions.

Phil Robertson from Human Rights Watch commented,

“All the hubris and optimism that we’re hearing from parts of the international community about the reformers around President Thein Sein face a real reality test when we look at places like the Kachin state, where it seems that the army is still very much in control of the political agenda, continuing to shut out humanitarians and continuing to violate human rights.”

See a report from the BBC here.

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