In Burma, a massacre in a village in Kayah state, on the Thai border, left more than 30 dead. In recent weeks, the region has been the subject of very fierce fighting.
With our correspondent in Bangkok, Carol Isoux
The charred bodies of nearly forty dead, children, women and the elderly, apparently burned alive were found this Saturday, December 25 in the village of Hpruso in Kayah state. This predominantly Christian village is located on the border with Thailand.
These villagers were refugees who had already left their jungle village because of the clashes with burmese army, probably gathered to celebrate Christmas Eve according to local sources.
Significant resistance to the army in Kayah State
In recent weeks, fighting between citizen militias and the Tatmadaw (the Burmese army) has been particularly violent in the region, with both sides claiming dozens of deaths.
Kayah State is one of the strongholds of resistance to the army, particularly among the Karenni, an ethnic minority predominantly Christian Baptist. While in Yangon, Cardinal Charles Bo, who had spoken out against military rule and in favor of the protection of Christian minorities on several occasions, was recently photographed cutting up a Christmas cake with four hands with the head of the junta, Min Aung Hlaing, causing consternation among the activists.
►To read: Burma would have planned the massacre of anti-junta protesters in March, according to HRW