An ethnic resistance group in northern Myanmar says an entire army battalion has surrendered to it

By GRANT PECK
Associated Press

BANGKOK (AP) — A Myanmar army battalion based near the Chinese border has reportedly surrendered to an alliance of ethnic armed groups that launched a surprise offensive last month in the country’s northeast. A spokesperson for the alliance says 127 soldiers and 134 family members gave themselves up. The surrender could not be independently confirmed. It appears to be the biggest by regular army forces since widespread armed conflict in Myanmar broke out in 2021 after the army seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. The spokesperson for the Three Brotherhood Alliance says it expects to soon to capture Laukkaing, the area’s major city.