A junta air attack on a mine near the Thai-Myanmar border left three people dead. The attack happened in the early hours of Wednesday morning, according to local residents.
The identity of the victims is not yet known but they are believed to be workers at an antimony (kohl) mine, which is about 32 kilometers (20 miles) from Payathonzu town in Kayin State.
A Payathonzu resident told RFA two of the three injured were sent to hospitals in the area as they were critically wounded.
“[The mine] was hit by fighter jets are about 01:00 a.m. There were many Chinese in the mine but there were no Chinese nationals among the dead. Only Burmese people died, two Chinese just lost their passports,” the local said.
The mine is in an area controlled by Karen National Union (KNU) Brigade 6, and its owners have to pay taxes to the KNU.
Pro-junta Telegram channels said military jets bombed a KNU camp near Me Ka Thar village in Payathonzu town at 01.40 a.m. killing many people. RFA has not been able to confirm this.
When RFA contacted the junta spokesman and economy minister for Kayin State, Saw Khin Maung Myint, he referred us to the minister of security and border affairs.
On Oct. 6, the junta air force bombed a village about three miles from Payathonzu, damaging a monastery and some houses.
This content originally appeared on Radio Free Asia and was authored by By RFA Burmese.