Ethnic group captures Myanmar army base as resistance to junta grows

The KNU, which controls territory in eastern Myanmar near the border with Thailand, is a close ally of the resistance movement against the military takeover that ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.

Anti-coup protesters flash the three-finger salute together on their message card during a protest against the military coup in Yangon, Myanmar (AP)

Ethnic Karen guerrillas said they captured a Myanmar army base in what represents a morale-boosting action for those opposing the military’s takeover of the country’s civilian government in February.

A spokesman for the Karen National Union, the minority’s main political group seeking greater autonomy from Myanmar’s central government, said the group’s armed wing attacked the base at 5am and burned it down just after dawn.