CNN
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Dozens of other folks were killed in army airstrikes that hit a celebratory tournament in Myanmar’s mountainous Kachin state on Sunday, in step with native information retailers and world organizations.
Victims have been attending an tournament, together with a live performance, held by way of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) to mark the 62nd anniversary of the gang’s political wing, the Kachin Independence Organization, in step with Reuters, mentioning KIA spokesperson Naw Bu.
Reuters and native information outlet The Irrawaddy reported a minimum of 50 other folks have been killed. CNN can not independently examine the selection of reported deaths. Myanmar’s ruling army junta has now not commented at the assault.
Kachin Alliance, a Kachin neighborhood group based totally in Washington, DC, stated Kachin artists, native elders, and KIO leaders have been amongst the ones killed.
“In the aftermath of the massacre, families were scrambling to obtain news about their loved ones due to a prolonged internet blackout in Hpakant,” the remark stated. “We are also concerned to learn the report of blocking of medical access to victims of massacre.”
Myanmar has been wracked by way of struggle because the army junta seized energy in a coup ultimate February. Rights teams and observers say since then, freedoms and rights within the nation have deteriorated; state executions have returned and the selection of documented violent assaults by way of the military on colleges has surged.
Numerous armed insurrection teams have emerged, whilst thousands and thousands of others proceed resisting the junta’s rule thru moves, boycotts and different kinds of civil disobedience.
The assault on Sunday drew world condemnation, with the United Nations pronouncing it used to be involved over experiences of greater than 100 civilians impacted.
“While the UN continues to verify the details of this attack, we offer our deepest condolences to the families and friends of all those who were killed or injured. The UN calls for those injured to be availed urgent medical treatment, as needed,” it stated in a remark on Monday.
It added that the army’s “excessive and disproportionate” use of drive towards unarmed civilians used to be “unacceptable,” and referred to as on the ones accountable to be held to account.
The ambassadors of Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Norway, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States additionally issued a joint remark condemning the strike on Monday.
“This attack underscores the military regime’s responsibility for crisis and instability in Myanmar and the region and its disregard for its obligation to protect civilians and respect the principles and rules of international humanitarian law,” the joint remark learn.
Non-profit group Amnesty International stated in a remark the army’s movements – together with executing pro-democracy activists, jailing reporters and focused on civilians – were allowed to proceed “in the face of an ineffective international response.”
“As officials and leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) prepare to host high-level meetings in the coming weeks, this attack highlights the need to overhaul the approach to the crisis in Myanmar,” the remark stated, urging ASEAN leaders to do so once they meet for his or her annual summit in November.
