Statement
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Statement concerning the terrorist Myanmar military’s air attack at Kanan Village in Tamu Township, Tamu District, Sagaing Division
January 9th, 2024 •
Author:
National Unity Government of Myanmar
•
3 minute read
Republic of the Union of Myanmar
The National Unity Government
Statement concerning the terrorist Myanmar military’s air attack at Kanan Village in Tamu Township, Tamu District, Sagaing Division
09 January 2024
The Myanmar military launched a horrific air strike at Kanan village, Tamu Township, Tamu District, Sagaing Division, on the morning of January 7, 2024 as the Kanan villagers filled the streets with the lively atmosphere of their Sunday church gatherings. According to the information from the ground at the time of this statement, a total of 17 civilians including 9 children aged between 5 to 17 years old lost their lives, and 19 people were injured.
Based on reliable sources of information from the National Unity Government (NUG), from the day of the unlawful military coup in 2021 to December 31, 2023, 627 underage children and 1,017 women have been killed. There have been 583 instances of air attacks on civilians, resulting in 897 fatalities and 958 injuries, 76 religious buildings and 52 schools were destroyed. The Myanmar military is experiencing heavy losses in all fronts, including politics, the military, and diplomacy, leading them to increasingly target civilians using disproportionately strong weapons.
The Myanmar military persistently commits egregious violations of international laws, encompassing war crimes and crimes against humanity, while consistently disregarding the 5 Points Consensus of ASEAN and UN Security Council Resolution 2669. These transgressions involve the heinous acts of murdering and causing injuries to civilians, as well as the intentional targeting and destruction of properties. Such actions directly contravene numerous International and Regional Human Rights Treaties, Conventions on the Rights of Children, the Geneva Convention, and the Rome Statute. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has already called upon the Security Council to refer the Myanmar military’s widespread and systematic attacks on civilians as war crimes and crimes against humanity to the International Criminal Court.
The National Unity Government (NUG) is committed to apprehending and holding accountable not only those directly responsible for the attacks but also those who supported or issued orders for such actions, utilizing the domestic justice system. The NUG also urges United Nations Member States to collectively take decisive action against the military council, in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2669. This includes imposing stronger economic sanctions and formulating a new resolution to halt the import of jet fuels and weapons for the military. Furthermore, we call for collaborative actions to prosecute the Myanmar military using the universal jurisdiction mechanism, either through individual member states or via international and regional legal systems.
Progressive Voice is a participatory rights-based policy research and advocacy organization rooted in civil society, that maintains strong networks and relationships with grassroots organizations and community-based organizations throughout Myanmar. It acts as a bridge to the international community and international policymakers by amplifying voices from the ground, and advocating for a rights-based policy narrative.