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The
air strike late on Sunday in the northern state of Kachin, which
the military has yet to confirm took place, killed civilians,
prominent local singers and officers of the Kachin Independence
Army (KIA), media reported, citing witnesses who said the attack
was carried out by three jets.
A spokesperson for the junta could not immediately be reached
for comment and Reuters could not immediately verify the details
of the reports, which said the strike happened in the A Nang Pa
region of Hpakant township.
Myanmar has been gripped by violence since the army overthrew an
elected government early last year. Opposition movements, some
of them armed, have since emerged across the country, which the
military has countered with lethal force.
KIA spokesperson Naw Bu said the attack targeted celebrations of
the 62nd anniversary of the formation of the Kachin army's
political wing, the Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO).
"The air raid was intentional. The KIA/KIO strongly condemns
this. This is quite a wicked act which can be also considered
war crimes," he said by phone, adding his organisation could not
yet confirm the death toll.
Since the coup, open conflict has resumed between the Myanmar
army and bitter rival the KIA, which has been fighting for
greater autonomy for the Kachin people for six decades and has
voiced support for the anti-junta resistance.
The shadow National Unity Government (NUG), an alliance of
anti-military groups, said it was greatly saddened by the loss
of life and urged the United Nations and international community
to intervene and urgently stop the atrocities.
"The terrorist military has deliberately committed another mass
killing with aerial bombardments by targeting a large public
concert," the NUG said in a statement.
"The act of the terrorist military clearly violates
international laws."
The United Nations has repeatedly condemned Myanmar's military,
accusing it of crimes against humanity over the deaths of
civilians. The junta says its operations are targeting
"terrorists".
(Reporting by Reuters Staff; Editing by Martin Petty and Nick
Macfie)
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