In a disturbing escalation of violence, the military junta in Myanmar has intensified its assault on civilians in Rakhine State, targeting ethnic villages and residential areas following recent military defeats against the Arakan Army.
The United League of Arakan (ULA) issued a stark warning to residents in Rakhine State, urging them to avoid large gatherings, as these have become vulnerable targets for the junta’s relentless barrage, including fighter jets, attack helicopters, gunboats, and heavy artillery, The Irrawaddy reported.
The ULA accuses the military regime of committing blatant war crimes and crimes against humanity, emphasizing the indiscriminate nature of the attacks, which include the intentional destruction of villages and heritage sites in Rakhine State.
This grim development underscores the junta’s utter disregard for civilian lives, raising concerns among humanitarian organizations and the international community.
The Brotherhood Alliance, a coalition that includes the Arakan Army, condemned the junta for its cowardly tactics of targeting civilians, particularly in response to military setbacks on the battlefield.
The Irrawaddy reports detail horrifying instances of entire villages being obliterated, such as the case in Minbya Township, where a junta gunboat wiped a village off the map.
These incidents paint a grim picture of the ongoing crisis in Rakhine State, with civilians bearing the brunt of the junta’s brutal crackdown.
Despite mounting evidence of atrocities, the junta denies responsibility for civilian casualties and dismisses media reports as “fake news.”
The military regime accuses the media of disseminating misinformation to support resistance forces and armed ethnic groups, labeling them as “terrorists.”
The international community, human rights organizations, and neighboring countries have condemned the junta’s actions, calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities and urging accountability for the crimes committed.
The humanitarian impact of the junta’s intensified crackdown is severe.
According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, at least 37 civilians were killed, and 121 were injured during clashes between the Arakan Army and junta troops in Rakhine State from November 13 to December 11.
Moreover, over 111,000 people have been displaced since November 13, illustrating the dire situation in one of Myanmar’s most impoverished yet resource-rich states.
In Minbya Township, a village was decimated by a junta gunboat, leaving nothing but devastation in its wake.
The harrowing scenes of destruction highlight the urgent need for international intervention to address the unfolding humanitarian crisis.
Civilians, already grappling with the economic fallout of the military coup in 2021, are now forced to endure the horrors of displacement, loss, and the constant threat of violence.
The ULA’s warning to avoid large gatherings indicates the precariousness of civilian life in Rakhine State. The junta’s use of fighter jets, attack helicopters, and gunboats suggests a strategy aimed at instilling fear among the civilian population.
These ruthless tactics underscore the urgent need for a coordinated international response to protect civilians and hold the junta accountable for its actions.
The situation is particularly dire in areas where the Arakan Army has gained ground.
Reports reveal that junta forces, in response to military defeats, have resorted to shelling residential areas indiscriminately.
Villages near Kyauktaw Township were shelled by the Myanmar military’s Light Infantry Battalion 376, resulting in the tragic death of a 52-year-old man in Thayet Tapin village.
Moreover, the use of attack helicopters to bomb villages in Kyauktaw Township, as witnessed in Link Sin village, has led to the destruction of homes and a Buddhist monastery.
Six displaced individuals, including a 70-year-old man and two children, were killed in the attack. The devastating consequences of these aerial assaults on civilian populations highlight the urgent need for the international community to take decisive action.
The military regime’s attempts to deflect blame onto the Arakan Army and discredit media reports are consistent with its broader strategy to maintain control and suppress dissent.
The impact of these tactics is felt not only in Rakhine State but also in neighboring regions, where junta forces continue to carry out brutal raids and airstrikes.