“I saw blood everywhere. Some of the bodies had been blown away . I saw bodies with limbs severed, brains and intestines falling out” witnessed by survivor Ko Sut Rein.
A Nang Pa is a small place about 20 miles away from Hpakant Township. On that fateful day people gathered there for a commemorative ceremony and a concert. This was a rare opportunity in Kachin state, for everyone to be happy, laugh and relax.
If we had surveyed the whole panorama, then first we would have seen the concert stage erected next to the football field, then a residential building and dining-tables set up near the kitchens.
More than 30 people including officers and businessmen were sitting at the front table close to the stage, chatting and eating. Hundreds of people turned up for the historic KIO ceremony, and to enjoy the concert.
The sounds from the stage boomed out from the speakers. Performers and fans were happy.
Ko Sut Rein, one of the entertainers recalled “This tragedy happened when the audience was asking Aura Li to sing, and I was about to go on stage.” Sut Rein will never forget how in the blink of an eye everything changed, from a joyful celebration to a blood-soaked nightmare. Ko Sut related ” The force of the explosion was so strong that the tiles on the roof of the building were blown away .He witnessed “ the venue was covered in the blood of the wounded. I heard people wailing and appealing for help,” The explosive havoc was unleashed by three fighter- jets with their cargo of 4 bombs, killing at least 80 people and it is reported a hundred more injured.
What had been a festive scene had turned into a ghoulish horror-show. Ko Sut Rein Recalled hearing “ the sounds of wailing echoing everywhere and I saw blood everywhere. Bodies had been blown away onto the roof. I saw bodies with limbs cut off, some with brains and intestines falling out”.
After the explosions voices screamed in pain, others fled from the destruction. Ko Sut Rein, one of the survivors said that “it was as if the whole place had been hit by a firestorm. The planes flew very close to the ground and released their bombs. A Nang Pa was torn up.”
Ko Sut Rein was lucky to survive. At that time he had left the concert for a while, and was still at the exit gate on the opposite site of the football field. He thinks that many people never heard the engines of the military planes arriving because of the loudness of the music. He wanted to run and warn everyone, but Ko Sut Rein explained “the situation changed in the blink of an eye. I couldn't do anything. Everyone was focused on the concert.”
According to Ko Sut Rein, a total of 4 bombs were dropped, 1 near the residential building,1 near the stage and the 2 others exploded in the surrounding areas.
Another witness said that when he heard the explosions, he desperately fled to where he thought it would be safe.“I was near the building. When it exploded, the stones were flying towards us like rain. We saw planks and bamboo poles scattered in the football field while we were running”, he said. He also admitted that he was still haunted by the voices of injured people crying for help, while himself and other survivors were in hiding.
KIA's high-ranking officials, and many Kachin artists and civilians were among the 80 known to have been killed, including well -known local singer Aura Li. Ko Sut Rein also said “ it was so heartbreaking to see corpses with limbs and organs cut off by bombs. " There are still many people whose bodies may never be recovered. And I saw ribs attached to some trees”, he added. He also said the explosions were so loud that he is worried that some people may have gone deaf.
After the tragedy the Military Council banned access to and from A Nang Pa, thus preventing many seriously wounded victims from being transported to nearby hospitals. Due to lack of access to medical treatment, the death toll keeps rising already standing at over 80 with many people still unaccounted.
The Military Council justified their bombing as a retaliation because their military bases Had been attacked. They also denied civilians and musicians were killed in Air Force's bombing and claiming A Nang Pa was a KIA’s 9 th brigade military camp.
KIA’s General Gun Maw wrote on his social media page that “A Nang Pa is not a KIA military stronghold. It's just a small shop-lined camp where travelers rest for a while.” He also prayed that “ those who lost their lives could rest in peace. Now the civilians and locals who visit A Nang Pa are treated like enemies by the Military Council. The heartbreaks and tears will turn into priceless investments .” General Gun Maw - a social media message addressed to Junta chief Min Aung Hlaing.
Many ethnic armed organizations, revolutionary forces, international and local organizations had expressed condolences, and issued statements of condemnation regarding this incident.
After surviving the disaster, Ko Sut Rein anxiously came back and searched for his friend among the rubble, and the burning remnants of the building. But his quest was in vain. In the early morning of the following day October 24th Ko Sut Rein found his friend, his entire body covered in wounds – dead.
edited TF
