Shoot First, Talk Later in Burma

MAE SOT, Thailand - Fighting between government forces and ethnic rebel groups in Myanmar's Karen State has in recent weeks pushed thousands of refugees into neighboring Thailand. The upsurge in hostilities stems from the military regime's drive to transform the ethnic ceasefire armies

into government-controlled border guards and in the process assert central control in the contested territories ahead of general elections scheduled for 2010.

Attacks led by the government-aligned Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) and supported by Myanmar army soldiers commenced on June 2 against the Karen National Liberation Army's (KNLA) battalions and general headquarters, situated along the Thai-Myanmar border.

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