Airstrikes by the Myanmar military killed about 80 people who were taking part in the celebration of the anniversary of the main political organization of the Kachin ethnic minority, according to several sources, quoted by the media on Monday.
The attack comes three days before Southeast Asian foreign ministers are to hold a special meeting in Indonesia to discuss the rise in violence in Myanmar (formerly Burma).
The number of casualties in the Sunday night celebration, promoted by the Organization for the Independence of Kachin, in the northern state of Kachin, appears to be the highest in a single air strike since the military took power in February 2021. , through a coup that overthrew the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.
Initial reports put the death toll at around 60, but later a new toll brought it to close to 80, in addition to around 100 wounded.
A spokesman for the Kachin Artists Association told the Associated Press news agency that military planes dropped four bombs on the celebration, where between 300 and 500 people were present.
Colonel Naw Bu, a spokesman for the Kachin Independence Army, said by telephone that soldiers, musicians, jade mining business owners and civilians were among the dead.
It was impossible to independently confirm the information, although the media associated with the Kachin had published videos showing what they said was the aftermath of the attack.
The military government’s information office confirmed in a statement late on Monday that there had been an attack on what it described as the headquarters of the Kachin Independence Army’s 9th Brigade, calling it a “necessary operation”. ”, in response to “terrorist” acts carried out by the ethnic group.
the government called the high death toll “rumor” and denied that the military had bombed a concert and that musicians and audience members were among the dead.
The United Nations representation in Myanmar said in a statement that it was “deeply concerned and saddened” by the reports of the air strikes.
“What appears to be the excessive and disproportionate use of force by security forces against unarmed civilians is unacceptable and those responsible must be held accountable,” he said.
Envoys representing Western embassies in Myanmar, including the United States, issued a joint statement saying the attack underlines the military regime’s “disrespect for its obligation to protect civilians and respect the principles and rules of international humanitarian law.”
Myanmar has faced uprisings by ethnic minorities seeking autonomy for decades, but anti-government resistance has risen sharply nationwide with the formation of an armed pro-democracy movement that opposed the military’s takeover last year.
The Kachin are one of the strongest rebellious ethnic groups in the country, capable of manufacturing some of their own weaponry. The group also has an alliance with the armed militias of the pro-democracy forces formed in 2021 to fight army dominance.
Sunday’s celebration of the organization’s 62nd anniversary, which included a concert, was held at a base also used for military training by its armed wing.
Hpakant, in Kachin state, is the center of the world’s largest and most profitable jade mining industry, from which both the government and the rebels derive revenue.
