More than 80 people were massacred including Kachin leaders, KIA officers, musicians and civilians by bombs dropped over concert.
October 24, 2022. (Myitkyina News Journal and other sources)
At around 8:30 PM on October 23, three warplanes bombed the ceremony and the concert being held in Anang Pa, Hkapant in Kachin state to celebrate the 62nd anniversary of the KIO (Kachin Independence Organization).
An estimated 80 people were killed when the Military Council’s Air Force fighter jets bombed the KIO commemoration day ceremony held in Anang Pa, in Hpakant Township Kachin State according to a KIA officer.
The number of casualties at Sunday night's celebration by the KIO in the northern state of Kachin appeared to be the most in a single air attack, since the military seized power in February last year.
The KIA officer elaborated” the people killed by the air raids included businessmen, KIA officers, Kachin musicians and civilians and with more than 50 seriously injured. It could be many more.” Latest reports indicate up to 100 people were injured.
“ Between 300 and 500 people were in attendance and some famous Kachin singers and a keyboard player was among the dead,” according to a Kachin artist.
A KIA officer told Myitkyina News Journal. “The warplanes targeted and bombed the 62nd commemoration day. The Junta’s planes deliberately dropped bombs, while the concert was going on, when young people, cooks, musicians, and KIA officers were gathered for the annual ceremony.”
KIA spokesman Naw Bu told Myanmar Now “They bombed the event on purposeknowing that there were many civilians there. This is inhumane and a war crime.”.
The Military Council has claimed state media that they attacked a military camp of the KIA’s 9th brigade. This has been strongly denied by the Central Committee KIO in a press release. “ A Nang Pa (site of the concert) is not a KIA military stronghold. It's just a small shop-lined camp where travelers often rest for a while.The Military Council was aware of this fact, yet committed a large-scale attack that would cause mass deaths.”
Amnesty International’s deputy regional director, Hana Young expressed deep concern about the Military Council air raid.” “The military has shown ruthless disregard for civilian lives in its escalating campaign against opponents. It is difficult to believe the military did not know of a significant civilian presence at the site of this attack. The military must immediately grant access to medics and humanitarian assistance to those affected by these air strikes and other civilians in need.”
However, attempts to get the most seriously wounded to the nearest hospital in the vicinity have been blocked at military checkpoints along the way ,which will almost certainly increase the final death toll.
The KIO in their statement also expressed deep condolences to relatives and ”gratitude to individuals, who comfort the people grieving over the death of many people due to the disgusting attack of the dictatorial Military Council, and organizations that send condolence messages. ”
The KIO leadership statement ended with the pledge “We will convert this tragic incident into the strength to resist the dictatorial Military Council, and speed up the revolution.”
edited TF
