A Burmese aid group says Burma's military government has launched a new offensive along the country's eastern border with Thailand.
The Free Burma Rangers says Burmese forces have displaced thousands of villagers in Karen state, burning their homes and rice crops. The group says nearly 5000 villagers are hiding in jungle and mountain areas of Burma.
The U.S. Campaign for Burma last week reported similar attacks. The human right group said the attacks were aimed at bringing eastern Burma, which has historically been under control of Burma's ethnic minorities, under the control of the country's military government.
Rights groups say more than 500,000 villagers are believed to have been forced from their homes in eastern Burma over the past decade.
Some information for this story provided by AP.
