CNN
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Dozens of individuals have reportedly been killed in navy airstrikes at a celebratory occasion in Myanmar’s mountainous Kachin state on Sunday, drawing worldwide condemnation of the junta that seized energy within the nation greater than a 12 months and a half in the past.
Victims had been attending an occasion organized by the Kachin Independence Military (KIA) to mark the 62nd anniversary of the armed ethnic insurgent group’s political wing, the Kachin Independence Group (KIO).
Col. Naw Bu, a spokesman for the Kachin Independence Group (KIO), informed CNN 62 folks had been killed within the airstrikes and 60 folks stay injured. Most of the injured have burns and shrapnel wounds.
CNN can not independently confirm the variety of reported deaths.
KIO Common Secretary La Nan mentioned the occasion the victims have been attending, which included musical performances, was one of many group’s most vital annual festivities, with “tons of, if not 1000’s” in attendance together with artists, enterprise house owners and elders. Many had traveled from throughout the state to attend, he mentioned.
“We perceive the intention of (the airstrikes) was largely to inflict chaos and big ache to the general public, in a big quantity and with as a lot injury as they might inflict,” La Nan mentioned.
The navy junta, which overthrew the federal government in a bloody coup final February, claimed on Monday that reviews of civilian deaths from the airstrikes have been “faux information.”
It claimed the airstrikes had focused the KIA’s navy base, in response to the group’s earlier raids and assaults on passenger vessels alongside the Irrawaddy River. It additionally claimed it had adopted worldwide conventions “in order to make sure peace and stability of the area.”
La Nan refuted the junta’s declare, saying the celebration had been held within the A Nang Pa area – a small space the place vacationers typically cease by a market. It’s “nowhere near navy installations,” he mentioned.
Although KIO personnel have been in attendance, “they weren’t there as navy personnel however as entertainers,” serving to welcome visitors and performing, he added.
For the reason that coup, rights teams and observers say freedoms and rights in Myanmar have deteriorated; state executions have returned and the variety of documented violent assaults by the military on faculties has surged.
Quite a few armed insurgent teams have emerged, whereas hundreds of thousands of others proceed resisting the junta’s rule by strikes, boycotts and different types of civil disobedience.
Myanmar’s shadow authorities, the Nationwide Unity Authorities – a gaggle of ousted lawmakers, coup opponents and ethnic minority group representatives – condemned the assault in a press release on Monday, saying the navy had “intentionally dedicated one other mass killing.”
The assault “clearly violates worldwide legal guidelines because the provisions of the Geneva Conventions,” it mentioned within the assertion, urging the worldwide neighborhood and United Nations to “take efficient actions urgently.”
The NUG operates undercover or by members overseas, looking for to achieve recognition because the authentic authorities of Myanmar.
The assault on Sunday drew worldwide condemnation, with the United Nations saying it was involved over reviews of greater than 100 civilians impacted.
“Whereas the UN continues to confirm the small print of this assault, we provide our deepest condolences to the households and buddies of all those that have been killed or injured. The UN requires these injured to be availed pressing medical remedy, as wanted,” it mentioned in a press release on Monday.
It added that the navy’s “extreme and disproportionate” use of power in opposition to unarmed civilians was “unacceptable,” and referred to as on these accountable to be held to account.
Navy spokesperson Brig Gen Zaw Min Tun rejected the reviews in feedback made to CNN Wednesday.
“We knew that it was a den the place enemies and terrorist have been hiding. So, we launched a mandatory navy operation,” he mentioned. “All through historical past and until now, Tatmnadaw has by no means attacked civilians, and we don’t must make clear concerning the matter in reference to faux information.”
La Nan, the KIO official, mentioned the navy had sealed off the roads surrounding A Nang Pa after the assault, imposed an web and telecommunications blackout, and deployed plainclothes officers to native hospitals – that means victims of the assault have little to no entry to medical care.
“They’re taking refuge in close by makeshift clinics and rudimentary medical services within the mining space. Most of their relations are very frightened as a result of there’s little or no entry to drugs,” he mentioned, calling it a “deliberate blockade.”
The KIO and area people is now attempting to get well all of the victims, and “have a correct burial in line with our traditions and our spiritual rituals,” he mentioned – including that about 10 our bodies have been past identification.
CNN can not independently confirm the present state of affairs.
On Monday, the ambassadors of Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Norway, Switzerland, the UK and the USA issued a joint assertion condemning the strike.
“This assault underscores the navy regime’s accountability for disaster and instability in Myanmar and the area and its disregard for its obligation to guard civilians and respect the ideas and guidelines of worldwide humanitarian regulation,” the joint assertion learn.
Non-profit group Amnesty Worldwide mentioned in a press release the navy’s actions – together with executing pro-democracy activists, jailing journalists and concentrating on civilians – have been allowed to proceed “within the face of an ineffective worldwide response.”
“As officers and leaders from the Affiliation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) put together to host high-level conferences within the coming weeks, this assault highlights the necessity to overhaul the strategy to the disaster in Myanmar,” the assertion mentioned, urging ASEAN leaders to take motion once they meet for his or her annual summit in November.
