The Women’s League of Burma and Burma Campaign UK send condolences to the family and
friends of all those who were killed by Burmese military airstrikes in Kachin State on the
evening of 23rd October.
As around a thousand people attended a music festival to celebrate the founding of the
Kachin Independence Organisation, the Burmese military sent jets to bomb the audience.
Initial reports are that more than 80 people have been killed. More than 100 were seriously
injured. When they tried to reach hospitals for treatment, they were blocked by the Burmese
military at Ginsi village and turned back.
Three Burmese military jets attacked the music festival, which featured famous Kachin artists
such as Aurai and Galau Yaw Lwi. The festival was celebrating the 62nd anniversary of the
founding of the Kachin Independence Organisation.
Over the past four days, the Burmese military has also been carrying out airstrikes at
Kawkereik, Karen State, with reports of two people killed and ten injured, including six
children.
Since the attempted coup began on 1st February last year, more than a million people have
been forced to flee their homes because of attacks by the Burmese military. A large
proportion of these people were forced to flee because of airstrikes, or because the threat of
airstrikes means it is unsafe to return home. This has created a humanitarian crisis.
Women’s League of Burma and Burma Campaign UK call on the international community:
– To immediately impose aviation fuel sanctions on Burma. Limiting the Burmese military’s
access to aviation fuel will reduce its ability to carry out airstrikes and kill civilians.
– Enact targeted sanctions against the Burmese military and its proxies to effectively cut
off financial flows;
– Institute a comprehensive global arms embargo, with robust monitoring and
enforcement mechanisms, to end the direct and indirect supply, sale, or transfer of all
weapons and other equipment that may be used for training, intelligence and military
assistance;
2
– Refer the situation on human rights in Burma to the International Criminal Court for their
crimes against humanity, which have been perpetrated against innocent civilians,
including peaceful protests and ethnic groups.
The Burmese military are deliberately and indiscriminately targeting civilians with airstrikes
as part of their campaign to attempt to terrorise the people of Burma into submission. This is
a war crime and a crime against humanity.
We have repeatedly called for action to cut the supply of revenue, arms and equipment to
the Burmese military. The failure to do so has meant that the Burmese military are still able
to carry out airstrikes like the one in Kachin State yesterday.
“Every day ethnic communities are the victims of war crimes and crimes against humanity. We
are witnessing daily atrocity crimes perpetrated by the same military junta that has already
committed genocide. The international community needs to start enforcing international laws
and rules with regard to Burma. Decisive action is needed to uphold international law, to
preserve international peace and security and to fulfil mandates contained in Resolution 1674
regarding the protection of civilians,” said Nang Moet Moet, Joint General Secretary (1) of
Women’s League of Burma.
“The British government, EU and USA have decided that trying to stop airstrikes like this is
not a priority, and have failed to act on calls for aviation fuel sanctions. They can and must do
more. Imposing sanctions to stop the supply of aviation fuel to the Burmese military is the
single most effective action that can be taken to address the humanitarian crisis caused by
airstrikes against civilians,” said Anna Roberts, Executive Director of Burma Campaign UK.
Contact details:
WLB : Nang Moet Moet, Joint General Secretary (1) of Women’s League of Burma, +66 5955
6630 secretariat@womenofburma.org
Anna Roberts, Executive Director of Burma Campaign UK, +44 (0)7950849529 Email
anna.roberts@burmacampaign.org.uk.
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