APR 2, 2021,
YANGON • Unrest in coup-hit Myanmar has thrown the spotlight on some of the country's armed ethnic groups, as three of them threaten the junta with retaliation for its deadly crackdown on protests. Some analysts are warning that the crisis could spiral into even more conflict if the insurgents follow through on their threats. Here's a breakdown of some of the myriad armed groups.
WHO ARE THE REBELS?
Independence from British colonial rule in 1948 left a complex patchwork of cultural, ethnic and linguistic groups in Myanmar. In the decades since, a messy struggle has worn on in different regions over autonomy, ethnic identity, drugs, jade and other natural resources.