Myanmar Junta Military Escalates Operations That Target Civilians

Myanmar Junta Military Escalates Operations That Target Civilians

On August 18, The Institute for Strategy and Policy - Myanmar (ISP-Myanmar) issued a report indicating that the Military Council's troops since the coup, and have intensified their operations and increasingly targeting civilians in the course of engaging revolutionary forces.

This report reveals that the Military Council's troops carried out military operations without differentiating between armed groups and the civilian population. This has resulted in greater harm to populated villages and towns, leading to an scalation in the count of civilian fatalities.

The infamous military airstrikes carried out at Pazigyi village at a peaceful civilian gathered to celebrate the Myanmar new year, resulting in a death-toll of more than 165 civilians rates as one of the worst war- crimes anywhere in the world in 2023. Although it triggered another  strong condemnation from the United Nations, but again the UN and western governments failed to push for any action from the ICC International  Court to hold the Junta accountable for theses war- crimes that have escalated in 2023.

According to data from the Institute for Strategy and Policy - Myanmar (ISP-Myanmar), over the course of more than two years since the coup, nearly 9,000 civilians have lost their lives, and over 80,000 buildings and homes, have been burnt down.

Ko Lwan Thu a cadre from the robust resistance stronghold in the Sagaing region, related to the Thanlwin Times." In the region where the Northwestern Command is stationed, there's widespread and indiscriminate artillery shell firing. They even resort to killing those held captive, and among the detained are ordinary civilians. This highlights their active engagement in substantial war crimes. Moreover, they regularly unleash multiple rocket launchers fire, with instances occurring up to 20 times a day," shared Ko Lwan Thu from the robust resistance stronghold in the Sagaing region, as detailed by Than Lwin Times.

Ko Lwan Thu added that,”  the Military Council frequently resorts to airstrikes whenever they experience substantial losses.  The situation has escalated to the point of employing jet fighters to release bombs on villages.Targeted assaults on civilians, rather than military objectives, are increasing in frequency—whether through aerial, ground-based, or multiple rocket launcher attacks."

According to data from the Institute for Strategy and Policy - Myanmar (ISP-Myanmar), over the course of more than two years since the coup, nearly 9,000 civilians have lost their lives, and over 80,000 buildings, including homes, have been burned down.

"In the region of Brigade 1 - Battalion 3, the Military Council's troops are present all around us. Indiscriminate firing of artillery shells into the village happening almost every day. In their military operations around Nget Pyaw Taw last month, they caused the deaths of three villagers," reported Ko Ye Thway Ni, a member of the Kyaikto Revolutionary Force (KRF).

The National Unity Government (NUG) had designated 2023 as the year to conclude the revolution. With merely four months remaining until the year's end, NUG Defense Minister U Yee Mon has expressed the possibility that the revolution might conclude in the early months of the upcoming year. Most independent analysts consider the NUG’s declarations on winning the was wildly optimistic.

Ko Zeyar Lwin, in charge of 96 Soldiers-PDF commented,”  "In our offensive plans spanning the next six months, our combined forces and undertake a series of engagements aimed at capturing enemy camps. “ However the frontline EAOs and most PDFs do not make any rash statements about the time-frame for victory over the Junta.   

Since the coup, up until July of the current year, there have been over 10,000 battles occurring across the country. These clashes have led to a gradual expansion of the townships in which they took place, with the count reaching 211 townships this year.

Furthermore, ISP-Myanmar has reported an increase in the number of battles between the military and People's Defense Forces, along with a rise in collaborative operations between Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs) and People's Defense Forces (PDFs) during this year.

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