A KIA (Kachin Independence Army) source has reported that the military planes have deployed a chemical gas during their recent bomb attacks in the Lone Jar Bum area east of Momauk Township in Kachin State.
The Military Council’s planes bombarded the KIA and People’s Defense Forces (PDF) in Lone Jar Bum from October 22 -until the night of the 24th. The KIA source on the frontline told KNG that chemical weapons were also used in the October 24 airstrike.
This KIA source described "First we saw a cloud of smoke, soon after our whole bodies became so weak, that all our limbs lost the energy to move.We had to do our best to get rid of the poison”, the KIA source explained.
The Military Council has significantly increased the speed of operations, backed by airstrikes along the Kachin-Sagaing border since September. Currently, intense battles are still going on in Momauk.
A 200-strong Military Council force assembled from Momauk, Bhamo and Katha split into 3 columns and attacked Lone Jar Bum on October 22 and fighting is still going on Due to the aerial bombardment and shelling by the Military Council, residents of Wa Wan, Lone Jar, Kun Jar, Naung Pauk and Khar Nan Villages are fleeing to Christian churches and acquaintances in Momauk and Bhamo.
This is not the first EAO claim of a chemical attack in 2022. The Chindwin reported on evidence from fighting in Kayah State recorded at 9:00 pm on 27 January 2022 that chemical weapons had been used during aerial attacks.
The Local PDF forces who went to clear the bomb wreckage discovered a different type of bomb- a projectile that was filled with an explosive chemical
producing smoke and fire. Similarly, the local Defense Forces had accused the Military Council of using chemical gas in the battle of Myo Hla in August.
The suspicion that the junta troops maybe using a nasty chemical has been increased
by observations that some individuals have been spotted wearing lead-colored uniforms which appeared to be protective suits designed for the safe handling of toxic chemical substances in various military units, according to a Karenni PDF source.
However the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists report “ Myanmar should finally come clean about its chemical weapons past “By Gregory D. Koblentz, Madeline Roty | March 11, 2020 makes it clear the evidence Chemical Warfare conventions is far from conclusive.
In their 2020 report they note that “ EAOs accusations involve blister agents like mustard gas and unidentified toxic agents, while others refer to chemicals such as white phosphorous and defoliants, substances which are not considered chemical weapons under the Chemical Weapons Convention.
The attacks have reportedly been carried out with mortars, rockets, heavy artillery, and bombs resulting in symptoms such as nausea, difficulty breathing, rashes, and partial paralysis.”
These symptoms including partial paralysis and difficulty in breathing are consistent
KIA with KIA claims in Momauk, and the history of the junta’s air force attacks on ethnic communities.
