MYANMAR: An increase in the airstrikes has resulted in deadly consequences as Myanmar’s military is turning to airstrikes to defeat the stiff-armed resistance a couple of years after it seized power and shoved the country into the unrest of a civil war.
According to the organisation Myanmar Witness and some other experts, the military is dependent mainly on fighter jets and helicopter ammunition supplied primarily to its allies, Russia and China.
135 “air war incidents,” compiled by the group from July to mid-December, denote the number of airstrikes that have been augmenting since September. The strikes have significantly caused damage to homes, schools, and religious spots that are supposed to be “safe for civilians.”
Another piece of data collected by the Acled group points out that the military increased strikes in 2022. Wednesday would mark two years since the military overpowered and ousted the democratically elected Aung San Suu Kyi. The public opposes the junta as it promises to hold elections this year.
An underground group calls itself the legitimate government of Myanmar, serving as an umbrella organisation for the opposition military regime. According to a January statement by the National Unity Government, it is responsible for 460 civilians, mostly children, being killed in the air strikes.
A watchdog group that tracks killings and arrests has revealed that the military authorities have killed 2,940 civilians since the army took over, as the independent Assistance Association for Political Prisoners reported.
The number of deaths is not acute and is expected to be much higher since the death tolls in remote areas, and combat zones are not calculated.
The ethnic minority rebel groups have formed allies with the military. The ethnic groups are mostly fighting for autonomy but have been sidetracked owing to the battles fought with the pre-democracy guerrillas in Myanmar. They have, however, denied the military’s mass-control tactic and have teamed up with the guerrillas, despite having a dearth of resources to fight back.
The European Union has implemented the imposition of an arms ban on Myanmar, including a ban on equipment that is used for monitoring communications. The US denies any military association with Myanmar.
Also Read: Myanmar Airstrike Kills 60 People at a Concert of an Ethnic Rebel Group
