South-east Asian air force chiefs to snub Myanmar meeting

Charred homes sit in piles of ash in Mwe Tone village of Pale township, in the Sagaing region. Amnesty International said last year the junta was likely using air strikes as "collective punishment" against civilians supporting anti-coup fighters. - AP

BANGKOK (AFP): Several South-east Asian air force commanders will shun an upcoming meeting chaired by Myanmar's military rulers, officials told AFP, deepening the junta's regional isolation as it struggles to crush resistance.

The annual Asean Air Chiefs Conference gathers top air force leaders from the 10-nation bloc to discuss cooperation in defence, combating extremism, and disaster relief.