60 People Killed in Myanmar Army Airstrike During Cultural Event
MYANMAR: 60 people killed in Myanmar army attack. The incident took place at a concert in Myanmar last night. Myanmar's military has killed 60 people, including musicians, in a devastating airstrike targeting a concert organized by a rebel group of the country's minority Kachin ethnic group.
According to the local media, the attack allegedly claimed the lives of Kachin Independence Army (KIA) officers as well.
Twelve others were also injured. According to reports, the attack was carried out by three jets.
Northern Kachin Province is where the attack happened. The military has not, however, provided an official confirmation.
The attack happens three days prior to the special meeting in Indonesia where the Southeast Asian foreign ministers were about to meet in order to discuss about the growing violence in the country.
There were no reports after the incident took place. The incident was supposedly kept secret due to the fear of reprisal by the Myanmarese army.
However, the incident was reported in the international media. However, the death toll is not clear yet. Locals claim that the death toll in the attack is around 100. However, according to the information gathered, 60 people have lost their lives in the airstrike.
There has been no comment from the military or official media on the incident so far. The incident came to light only from the videos and photos of the locals.
Since the establishment of an armed pro-democracy movement last year to oppose the military takeover, anti-government opposition has grown significantly nationwide in Myanmar, which has been plagued for decades by rebellions by ethnic minorities seeking autonomy.
The United Nations office in Myanmar said in a statement that it was "deeply concerned and saddened" by reports of the air raids.
"What would appear to be excessive and disproportionate use of force by security forces against unarmed civilians is unacceptable and those responsible must be held to account," it said.
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