Myanmar violence escalates with rise of 'self-defence' groups, says report

This photo taken and received courtesy of an anonymous source via Facebook on June 26, 2021 shows protesters marching with banners and flares as they take part in a demonstration against the military coup in Yangon. - AFP

YANGON, June 27, 2021 (AFP): Violence in post-coup Myanmar has escalated as anti-junta "self-defence" forces step up to take on the military, a report said Monday, warning of an "enormous" human cost if the regime uses its full power in subsequent crackdowns.

Myanmar has been in turmoil since the February coup that ousted Aung San Suu Kyi's government, with more than 880 killed in a junta crackdown on dissent, according to a local monitoring group.