Six civilians were killed this week by military airstrikes in eastern Myanmar\u2019s Kayah state that sent thousands fleeing the affected areas for safety, with one local rights group calling the attacks a crime against humanity.<\/p>\n
Two children were among the dead following the assault by military jets on Nang Mae Khon in Demawso township on Sunday and strike against a Karenni displaced persons camp in Hpruso township late Monday, sources told RFA.<\/p>\n
The two attacks forced around 200 residents of Hpruso\u2019s Rakheebu Camp and 20,000 refugees from Nang Mae Khon to escape to nearby mountains, sources said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are planning to flee to the mountain pass, too, as we are not sure when the military may attack again,\u201d said one local woman now sheltering in the western part of Hpruso after escaping from her home.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will escape death if our fate allows. If not, we\u2019ll be killed.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are 90-year-old men and women among us in our group, and it is very difficult for us to move safely when these elderly people are relying on us to help them escape the attacks,\u201d the woman added, speaking on condition of anonymity for security reasons.<\/p>\n
Residents of the Rakheebu Camp were mostly villagers who had already fled an earlier army massacre in Moso village on Dec. 24, sources said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey were all very frightened,\u201d said an aid worker in western Hpruso, where refugees were gathering. \u201cThey did not dare to sleep in their homes at night. They were all hiding in the forests. The whole village of Rakheebu has fled, and there\u2019s no one left.\u201d<\/p>\n
The attack by Myanmar\u2019s military on civilian targets was a clear violation of the Geneva Convention provisions against war crimes, said Aung Myo Min, minister of human rights for the National Unity Government set up to oppose Myanmar\u2019s military rulers, who overthrew the country\u2019s elected civilian government on Feb. 1, 2021.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was no need for airstrikes in these areas, as there were no major battles,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd even if they have to call in airstrikes, they must issue warnings ahead of time so that civilians aren\u2019t harmed. But that is not what happened here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Myanmar\u2019s ruling State Administration Council said on Sunday that it had launched airstrikes in the area after receiving reports that People\u2019s Defense Force militias had gathered in Nang Mae Khon to attack government positions in the state capital Loikaw.<\/p>\n
Junta spokesman Maj. Gen Zaw Min Tun said that PDF fighters had struck against Myanmar troops in Loikaw by gathering outside the town and attacking from two or three different places at once. \u201cSo our forces needed aerial assistance to hit them back,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe used aircraft and helicopters, though, and we didn\u2019t drop any bombs. Only rockets and other appropriate weapons were used,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The camps identified as refugee camps were actually PDF camps, he said.<\/p>\n
The junta attacks on the refugee camps at Hpruso were a deliberate move to stop refugees from living there, said Ko Bayna, director of the Karenni Human Rights Group.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis was not an accidental shooting. It is a crime against humanity to intentionally kill people and cause fear and panic. This was aimed at stopping people from living in this area,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Reported by RFA\u2019s Myanmar Service. Translated by Khin Maung Nyane. Written in English by Richard Finney.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n \n \n
\r\nThis content originally appeared on Radio Free Asia<\/a> and was authored by Radio Free Asia.
<\/p>\n