At least 30 people were killed in an airstrike in Myanmar during a concert held by an ethnic minority organization in conflict with its army juntaopposition organizations, residents and media reported today.
The airstrike late Sunday in northern Kashin state, an attack the military has yet to confirm, killed civilians, prominent local singers and officers of the Kashin Independence Army (KIA), media reported, citing witnesses who said that the attack was launched by three fighters.
A junta spokesman could not immediately be reached for comment and Reuters could not immediately verify details of reports that the raid took place in the Nag Par district of Hpakand town.
Myanmar has been mired in violence since the military overthrew an elected government early last year. Opposition movements, some of them armed, have since sprung up across the country, which the military is dealing with with lethal force.
KIA spokesman Nau Bu said the attack targeted the 62nd anniversary celebrations of the establishment of the Kashin Army’s political wing, the Kashin Independence Organization (KIO).
“The airstrike was deliberate. KIA/KIO strongly condemn the event. This is a particularly vicious act that can also be considered a war crime,” he said by telephone, adding that his organization could not yet confirm the death toll.
After the coup, open conflict resumed between Myanmar’s military and its arch-rival, the KIA, which has been fighting for greater autonomy for the Kashin people for six decades and has expressed support for the anti-junta resistance.
The shadow National Unity Government (NUG), an alliance of anti-military organizations expressed its grief at the loss of life and appealed to the United Nations and the international community to intervene and urgently stop the atrocities.
“The terrorist army deliberately carried out another mass killing by aerial bombardment targeting a large public concert,” the NUG said in a statement.
“The act of the terrorist army clearly violates international laws.”
The United Nations has repeatedly condemned Myanmar’s military, accusing it of crimes against humanity for the civilian deaths. The junta says its operations target “terrorists”.
Source: News Beast
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