Royal Thai Army to set up refugee camps for those fleeing Myanmar

The Burmese military has imposed martial law in the townships of Hlaing Tharyar and Shwepyitha in Yangon, following a bloody crackdown in which at least 18 protesters died. Around 100 people are now thought to have died since the army deposed of leader Aung San Suu Kyi, claiming the landslide election victory of her National League for Democracy party was the result of fraud. Many say the actual death toll is much higher.

The deprived townships of Hlaing Tharyar and Shwepyitha, now under martial law, are both home to garment factories and have seen regular crackdowns against citizens protesting the military coup. The Bangkok Post reports that Hlaing Tharyar has seen violent clashes between local police and the military, with protesters using modified trash cans as shields as they tried to rescue wounded demonstrators. Prior to the outbreak of violence, a video allegedly uploaded by…