Burma Army’s Assault on Displaced Camp Leaves Dozens Dead
By Network Media Group
Wednesday, October 11, 2023
The Burma army has reportedly killed at least 29 individuals, including numerous children, in a
recent assault on the Mung Lai Hkyet internally displaced persons (IDPs) camp near the Kachin
Independence Organisation/Kachin Independence Army (KIO/KIA) headquarters in Laiza.
“I am uncertain if we will recover all the deceased,” Col Naw Bu, the KIO/KIA media
spokesperson, told NMG as rescue efforts to find survivors and clear the immense pile of
rubble, which were people’s homes in the two camps and the surrounding village of Mung Lai
Hkyet, commenced on Tuesday morning. All structures in the camps were leveled by the
bombardment. Survivors have been relocated to Laiza town.
The attack took place at approximately 11:30 pm on 9 October, claiming the lives of at least 29
people, including 11 minors, and leaving 57 others injured.
“It appears to be an aerial attack; however, no one reported hearing an aircraft flying overhead.
Perhaps, this was because everyone was asleep at that time,” he said. The Burma army have
often targeted our territory and IDPs with artillery, 120 mm mortars, or 105 mm howitzers, Col
Naw Bu said. However, this time, they employed something far more powerful resulting in the
tragic loss of innocent lives, including women and children in an area where there was no
fighting.
This horrifying event occurred almost a month after the regime killed over 60 people by bombing
A Nang Pa, located in Hpakant Township, on 23 October, 2022.
Although the ruling State Administration Council (SAC) has disclaimed responsibility for the
latest massacre, spokesperson Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun told News of Myanmar that they “can
attack the headquarters of any of the terrorist groups at any time” though they have refrained
from doing so. He asked if conducting an airstrike or artillery assault so close to the border with
China in the dead of night was even possible.
Kachin Human Rights Watch and various other groups in Burma and international organisations
have vehemently condemned the massacre, demanding action against organizations and
individuals supporting SAC’s brutal actions.
UNICEF Myanmar issued a statement condemning the attacks on children and other civilians,
urging for their protection.
The strike coincides with daily fighting between KIA/KIO and SAC troops near the village of
Namsan Yang, situated roughly 10 miles away, following an unsuccessful regime offensive launched in July to gain control of the area.
