Death toll rises to 80 in concert airstrike in Myanmar

International Desk: The death toll of the country's military airstrike on a concert organized by a local separatist group in Myanmar's northern state of Kachin has risen to 80. Famous artists and singers of the country are also among the dead.

This air attack happened in Hapakanta town of Kachin last Sunday night. Citing several reports, Qatar-based media Al Jazeera reported this information in a report on Tuesday (October 25).

According to reports, human rights groups have accused Myanmar's ruling generals of violating the laws of war. At the same time, they called on the international community to impose an arms and jet fuel embargo on the Southeast Asian country.

Al Jazeera says Myanmar's military bombed a concert of hundreds of people gathered last Sunday night to celebrate the anniversary of the founding of the Kachin Independence Organization. Initially, the death toll was said to be more than 30 people, but with time, the death toll increased to 80 people.

A spokesman for the Kachin Artists Association told The Associated Press by phone Monday that the airstrikes killed as many as 80 people and wounded about 100 others.

Initial casualty reports in the attack put the death toll at 60, but sources close to Kachin Independence Army officials say around 80 are now known to have died.

The spokesman said military aircraft dropped four bombs on the concert last Sunday evening. Around 300 to 500 people including musicians and other performers were present here.

The dead included Kachin military officers and soldiers, musicians, jade mining business owners, other civilians and backroom cooks, he said. A Kachin singer and keyboard player were also among those killed in the attack.

Al Jazeera says it has not been able to independently confirm the details of the airstrikes in this far northern region of Myanmar. But videos posted by Kachin-sympathetic media showed the devastating aftermath of the airstrikes.

Meanwhile, the Kachin News Group also reported that the government security forces prevented those injured in the airstrike from being treated at hospitals in nearby towns.

Amnesty International has called on the Myanmar military to allow health workers and humanitarian agencies access to the area as well as those affected by the airstrikes.

It should be noted that on February 1, 2021, the military forces of the country overthrew the ruling democratic government of Myanmar through a coup d'état. The pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), were imprisoned at various levels.

After the military coup, several provinces of Myanmar, including Kachin, Shan, became unstable again. Ethnic minority groups in various provinces of the country opposed the Myanmar military coup and supported the protesters.

Since then, the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), a local rebel group, has often clashed with the country's army in various parts of Myanmar's Kachin province. Myanmar's military presence in these areas, which are inhabited by ethnic armed Kachin insurgents, has also been increased at various times.

 

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