Karen ethnic people protest against the Myanmar army at Hpa-an in Karen state on July 28, 2020 AFP/STRHPA-AN: Myanmar: Several thousand protesters marched in southeast Myanmar on Tuesday to demand the military's withdrawal from the area and an end to rights abuses after soldiers allegedly killed an unarmed woman from the Karen ethnic group.
But the killing has reignited anger in a state that has for decades been the scene of a bloody civil war between the military and ethnic Karen militants. An estimated 5,000 people turned out -- many dressed in traditional clothes and waving the Karen blue, white and red flag as they marched to state capital Hpa-an."We demand the military withdraw because we're worried we might also be shot and killed," said 57-year-old Khwe Ni.
Unrest has flared up again in a state divided into two parallel jurisdictions, one centrally run and one under governance of the KNU, which collects taxes and runs local police, schools and healthcare.