Myanmar has been embroiled in controversy since the February putsch, as the military uses deadly force to fight the conflict.
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Dozens of Myanmar security personnel have been killed on Sunday, rebel forces said, after fighting hard on the outskirts of the country to attack a foreign power.
Myanmar has been embroiled in controversy since the February putsch, as the military uses deadly force to fight the conflict.
The death toll has risen to at least 815, according to a local watchdog group.
The violence has pushed others into a campaign against municipalities to form a group called the "People's Defense Force" (PDF) in their townships - made up of citizens who fight security forces with their own weapons.
There have been clashes in eastern Myanmar over the weekend, especially in the town of Kayah in the Demoso region, and in neighboring Shan.
People Defense Force member Thet Wai - not his real name - said at least 20 police officers were killed on Sunday and his side confiscated a police station in the town of Moebyel, Shan district, east of the capital Naypyidaw.
The police station was set on fire and rebel soldiers took four members of the security forces, local media reported.
"I thought today was a day of victory," Theth Wai, 29, told AFP.
"But I'm also worried because we've seen air strikes and tanks today. They have better weapons than we have."
He said Myanmar troops had launched an evening helicopter attack on Demoso, a town in the state of Kayah about 40 kilometers south.
A Demosan militant said at least 13 Myanmar soldiers were killed on Sunday, and four of his men were wounded.
"We intended to seize their police station, but they were using air strikes and we could not stop their reinforcements from entering the city," he said.
"We had to withdraw our troops from the war."
The fighting continued until Sunday night, according to the leader of the Karenni National Progressive Party - a strong armed group in the state of Kayah.
He confirmed that the military was using tanks, helicopters and violence in Demoso and Loikaw, the capital of Kayah province.
Meanwhile, military commander Min Aun Hlaing, who ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi from power, gave a two-hour interview with Phoenix Television of Hong Kong, about a full program to be played.
In a letter released on Sunday, he issued a statement to Chinese investors following the arson attack on factories in the commercial capital Yangon.
"Our citizens do not hate China," he said. "It happened for political reasons."
Suu Kyi has not been seen in public since she was detained.
He has been charged with a series of criminal offenses involving contempt of the borders of coronavirus during last year's election campaign and illegal immigration negotiations.
Suu Kyi is expected to appear in court on Monday for the first time, weeks after her trial.
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