On September 5, 316 civil society organizations issued a joint statement strongly condemning the junta's aerial bombardment of the Bangkok internally displaced people (IDP) camp in Pekon Township, located on the border of Shan State and Karenni State.
In the statement issued on September 12, Karenni civil society organizations, along with groups from other regions of Myanmar and those supporting the revolution, condemned the junta.
“The bombing strike is an extremely inhumane act, and there is no justification for it. The loss of innocent children in the attack is unacceptable. We urge the responsible organizations to take decisive action against the perpetrators,” said Teacher Lili, Founder of New Horizon Institute School.
The bombing of the Bangkok IDP camp resulted in the deaths of 8 children under the age of 15 and 2 adults over 40. Of the 20 injured, 8 are in serious condition and are still receiving medical treatment.
Marking lines were drawn around the site of the bombing, with plans to establish a memorial to commemorate the destruction in the future.
“We plan to build memorials in the future to honor those who died in the bombing, such as a gallery dedicated to the event. We believe that priority in recovery efforts should be given to those who have lost their homes,” A Lar, a spokeswoman for the statement said.
She also mentioned that seeking justice for such cases during the interim requires engaging with both victims and perpetrators. However, currently, civil society organizations have not initiated any discussions about the transition.
From February 2021, when the coup occurred, to September 2024, the junta's air raids in Karenni State have resulted in the deaths of 515 civilians and the destruction of 52 churches, 25 schools, and 16 hospitals.
