Myanmar junta defends air strikes killing 60 people at concert

Myanmar’s junta defended its air strikes on a live performance, organized by an ethnic minority group, that killed at the least 60 individuals, an act opponents have described as a potential warfare crime at a time of deepening battle within the Southeast Asian nation.

Sunday’s aerial assault in Kachin State killed live performance performers together with civilians and militia officers and is seen as one of many deadliest because the junta overthrew the civilian authorities in a coup final 12 months. The strikes appeared to focus on a live performance at a base used for army coaching by the armed wing of the Kachin Independence Group, which is aligned with forces loyal to detained civilian chief Aung San Suu Kyi.