Myanmar Military Juntas’ brutal action is always against its citizens, sometimes against Rohingya, and sometimes against Kachins. Still, the Rohingya nation is under deep suffering and a huge number of them are refugees in Bangladesh. Amidst this prevailing status of their citizens, on October 9, 2023, the Myanmar military launched an assault on a village that was sheltering hundreds of displaced civilians in Kachin State. As a result of the assault in northern Myanmar’s Kachin State, a thunderous explosion shattered in Mung Lai Hkyet, a camp for people displaced.
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By the time the onslaught ceased, 28 civilians, including 12 children, lay dead, and numerous shelters, a kindergarten, and a church were in ruins. Although the military, which seized power from Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government in February 2021, denied responsibility for the attack, human rights organizations have accused them of targeting civilians and civilian areas. A UN-appointed investigative mechanism revealed compelling evidence of the military committing war crimes and crimes against humanity since the coup.
Further confirming these claims, a UN human rights office report disclosed that the military had killed over 3,800 civilians, destroyed nearly 75,000 civilian properties, and conducted nearly 1,000 airstrikes in the two and a half years following the coup. With a sense of impunity, the military’s actions have escalated in intensity and brutality, causing a relentless spiral of violence across Myanmar.
The recent attack on Mung Lai Hkyet specifically targeted those displaced by war since 2011. Traumatized and fearing for their safety, displaced Kachin youth felt that they had nowhere to run.
Kachin IDPs: Struggle for Survival
The Kachin people, an ethnic minority in Myanmar, have been subjected to human rights abuses by the military for many years, even before the coup. The Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO), an ethnic armed group, has been fighting for autonomy since 1961. The military has pursued a strategy known as the “four cuts,” which targets civilians by cutting off their access to food, funds, intelligence, and recruits. This approach has only intensified the Kachin resistance, especially after the collapse of a 17-year ceasefire in 2011, leading to the displacement of around 100,000 people, most of whom sought refuge in camps. The military has criminalized any association with or support for the KIO under the Unlawful Associations Act, further compelling Kachin people to seek refuge in KIO-controlled territory along the border with China.
In 2019, the civilian government led by Aung San Suu Kyi initiated discussions with Kachin civil society about the return of displaced people to their villages, to close IDP camps nationwide. However, Kachin IDPs rejected this initiative due to the absence of a ceasefire between the KIO and the military and the lack of security guarantees for those
who returned. Despite the risks, many Kachin people found themselves with few alternative safe places to go.
The ongoing conflict, displacement, and persecution have created a challenging and uncertain environment for the Kachin people, who continue to endure hardship and uncertainty as they navigate their lives in a region marked by violence and conflict.
The Traumatized People
After the coup in Myanmar, the security situation in the country deteriorated, leaving Kachin Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) even more vulnerable. The military’s violent crackdown on nonviolent protesters led to widespread armed resistance against their rule, with the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) providing training and weapons to new resistance groups. Regular clashes occurred between the KIO and the military. Recently, the conflict inched closer to Laiza, catching residents of Mung Lai Hkyet off guard when it was attacked on October 9.
The attack intensified the fear among the displaced population. Residents had become accustomed to seeking shelter during artillery shelling and airstrikes, but this attack took them by surprise. The traumatic incident left children in shock, some even losing their ability to speak.
The emotional toll was immense, and survivors were haunted by the sounds of falling objects, fearing further attacks. With their homes and belongings lost, financial hardships are set to worsen, compounding the difficulties brought about by the pandemic and the coup. IDP families struggle to make ends meet, unable to farm the land in the camps they occupy.
Many young IDPs aspire to pursue education, but the financial burden forces them to abandon their dreams. The Mung Lai Hkyet attack further dims the prospects of these students, leaving them feeling hopeless and depressed about their future. The ongoing conflict exacerbates an already dire situation, with IDPs enduring suffering and uncertainty in their homeland.
Hatred Intensifies
The recent attack on the Kachin community has not only brought about immense suffering but has also intensified their animosity towards the military. The survivors are determined to preserve this memory for generations to come, highlighting the brutality of the Burmese military and emphasizing the need to avoid any alliance with them. This incident compounds a growing sense of persecution among the Kachin people, exacerbated by past military actions, including the bombing of a music concert in Hpakant. Prominent Kachin activist Sut Seng Htoi stressed the importance of uniting and taking action against military rule, emphasizing that love for their people must be translated into concrete efforts.
In response to the attack, Kachins and other Myanmar nationals worldwide have been working to raise global awareness and advocate for a robust response, such as imposing sanctions on aviation fuel used by the military for civilian bombing. They have organized demonstrations, reenactments, and fundraising efforts. Kachin youth in Tel Aviv have joined forces to provide support to the survivors in Mung Lai Hkyet. They call for Western countries and aid organizations to extend the same attention and assistance to Myanmar’s democracy movement and the Kachin quest for self-determination that they have shown to Israel. Ah Hpung, from the affected community, urges the world to maintain focus on the Myanmar crisis and work toward a better future for internally displaced youth.
The Rohingya cleansing
The Rohingya, a predominantly Muslim ethnic minority group in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, have faced persecution and discrimination for years, as the Myanmar government denies them citizenship, rendering them stateless. The crisis escalated in 2017 when the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) launched attacks on police posts in Rakhine State. In response, the Myanmar military initiated a violent crackdown, involving mass killings, sexual violence, torture, and village burnings. This led to hundreds of thousands of Rohingya fleeing to Bangladesh, creating one of the world’s largest refugee crises.
It is six years into the mass exodus of Rohingya people to Bangladesh, nearly 1 million Rohingya refugees now reside in the overcrowded Kutupalong refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar, an area prone to natural disasters. These refugees, many of whom are struggling with traumatic experiences, rely heavily on humanitarian aid to meet their basic needs. Almost half of the refugees are children who have spent their entire lives as displaced persons, leaving their future uncertain.
The United Nations and human rights organizations have labeled the military’s actions as ethnic cleansing and genocide, accusing Myanmar of systematically removing or eradicating an ethnic or religious group. Myanmar’s government denies these allegations, asserting that the military’s actions were counterinsurgency operations against ARSA. Nonetheless, evidence of atrocities, including survivor testimonies, satellite imagery, and reports from international organizations, has fueled widespread condemnation and calls for accountability.
Efforts to address the crisis involve diplomatic initiatives, attempts to hold Myanmar’s military leaders accountable, and calls for the safe and voluntary return of Rohingya refugees with full citizenship rights. The international community grapples with the complexities of this crisis, and a lasting resolution remains elusive.
Global Reactions
The global community strongly condemned the ethnic cleansing in Myanmar. Nations across the world expressed outrage and concern as reports of violence and displacement of the Rohingya minority emerged. Governments, international organizations, and human rights advocates called for immediate action to stop the atrocities and provide aid to the affected population. Sanctions were imposed on the Myanmar military regime, and efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice gained momentum. The crisis prompted an international push for accountability, refugee support, and diplomatic solutions, highlighting the urgency of addressing such heinous acts of ethnic cleansing and promoting human rights on a global scale.
