Myanmar sinking into chaos as militias proliferate, warns International Crisis Group

Protesters holding flares as they take part in a demonstration against the military coup in Mandalay on June 24, 2021. - AFP/ANONYMOUS SOURCE

WASHINGTON (The Straits Times/ANN): A new report from the International Crisis Group (ICG) describes increasing lawlessness and chaos in Myanmar as conflict in the country spreads since the Feb 1 coup, with armed militias proliferating in both rural and urban settings.

Some of these militias, armed with hunting rifles and other makeshift weapons but increasingly obtaining better weaponry, have inflicted serious casualties on the military, or Tatmadaw.