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Kachin celebrities and musicians killed within the assault, from left, Aurali, Galau Yaw Lwi and keyboard participant Ko King.
By Hein Htoo Zan 24 October 2022
A junta airstrike that reportedly killed practically 50 folks celebrating the Kachin Independence Group’s anniversary (KIO) on Sunday night time has been condemned as a struggle crime by the Kachin Independence Military (KIA).
Three regime warplanes launched the strike on a music live performance being held to mark the KIO’s 62nd anniversary at a village close to Hpakant, Kachin State. The jet-fighters attacked Ginsi village, positioned 3 kilometers from Hpakant in an space managed by KIA Brigade 9.
Amongst these killed have been high-ranking officers of the KIA and KIO, well-known Kachin ethnic singers, and civilians. The assault additionally left about 100 folks injured.
Based on Oct. 25, 1960, the KIO is a strong Kachin political group whose armed wing, the KIA, has been preventing the Myanmar authorities and army for larger state autonomy. Following the coup final yr, the KIA has been launching army operations alongside anti-regime forces in Kachin State. The KIO refused to affix the junta’s peace talks this yr, branding them illegitimate.
KIA/KIO spokesperson Colonel Naw Bu mentioned that the regime is aware of full effectively that such anniversaries are marked by giant numbers of Kachin folks and the airstrike was supposed to focus on civilian crowds.
“They have been capturing at civilians, not on the enemy. That is an evil act, and it is a struggle crime. We’re grieving over the deaths of our folks,” he mentioned.
The KIA/KIO has not but issued an official assertion on the variety of casualties however native media shops and residents report that almost 50 folks have been killed within the strike.
Famend Kachin singers Aurali and Galau Yaw Lwi have been amongst these killed on the spot whereas different Kachin ethnic celebrities have been injured, in accordance with locals. The KIA confirmed that the commander of its Brigade 9 was additionally killed within the assault.
Residents of Kachin State and KIA/KIO workplaces flew the Kachin nationwide flag at half-mast to mourn the lives misplaced within the airstrike.
Colonel Naw Bu mentioned the assault had slammed the door to peace between the KIA/KIO and the Myanmar army.
“The hatred felt by the Kachin folks for the army has simply soared. The revolution will due to this fact solely get stronger. The Kachin folks and KIA will redouble their efforts within the Spring Revolution to uproot the army dictatorship,” Colonel Naw Bu instructed the Irrawaddy.
Captain Zay Thu Aung, an air pressure pilot who defected after the coup, instructed The Irrawaddy that the jet-fighters liable for the strike have been most likely both Yak-130s or MIG-29s as each are able to night-time assaults.
He mentioned the jets have been more likely to be from Tada-U in Mandalay Area as that is the closest regime airbase to Hpakant.
“At night time, it will have taken them simply 40 minutes most to get to the goal,” he added.
On Monday, Myanmar’s shadow Nationwide Unity Authorities (NUG) and its parliamentary wing, the Committee Representing Pyihtaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH), condemned the assault and referred to as on the United Nations and the worldwide group to take swift and efficient motion in opposition to the junta.
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