An airstrike on a school killed 22 students. Global inaction allows these atrocities to continue
By Sai Arkar on Nikkei Asia
“Some parents did not just lose one child … We saw two sisters lying side by side [at the cemetery], and their mother was crying beside them.”
These harrowing words came from an eyewitness describing the Myanmar regime’s recent airstrike on a school, which killed 22 children and two teachers. It was one of many accounts we received describing the multiple casualties resulting from that attack.
Our team has been investigating and compiling detailed evidence of the growing pattern of war crimes carried out by the junta in Myanmar. We continuously document the targeted attacks, including airstrikes, against the civilian population. Recently, we have shared some of our crucial discoveries with the world, drawing attention to these crimes.
Among the incidents we have documented is the above mentioned atrocious airstrike during school hours on May 12 in the Sagaing region in central Myanmar, near the epicenter of the recent massive earthquake. Other than the fatalities, at least 100 others were reportedly wounded in the attack.
A school teacher on the ground who witnessed the aftermath of that airstriketold me, “Parents are desperate for their children to be educated, which is whythey send them to school. Now that they’ve experienced such tragedy, they are heartbroken and afraid to send their children to school.”
The junta desires this situation. Their thinking is that if people are uneducated, they will be unable to revolt against them.
This lethal strike happened amid yet another regime-declared “ceasefire,” meant to last through May 31. The episode highlights how blatantly the regime and its army ignore their own declared obligations as well as the protection of innocent people, including children at school. The aerial bombings are traumatizing the population, and appear aimed at civilians as there are no military targets nearby and there is no active fighting in the areas where the strikes take place.
As someone residing in the country and documenting the military regime’shuman rights violations, while also advocating for accountability, it is disheartening to see what’s happening on the ground. Every time we connect with people, the conversation is often cut short because jet fighters are flying above them, and they have to seek shelter again. I vividly recall one person saying, “They [jets] are constantly circling, constantly hovering overhead. We just assume the next [bomb] will be the one for us.”
China and Russia, the regime’s main arms and fuel suppliers since the 2021 coup, supply modern munitions and aviation fuel, allowing the slaughter to continue. This foreign assistance is crucial for a regime facing broad opposition.
Yet despite global sympathy for Myanmar and its people after the earthquake, the merciless brutality of the military regime continues. And on top of natural disasters, the political instability and conflict resulting from the overthrow of a democratically elected civilian-led government continues to aggravate the hardship and suffering of the people.
The junta routinely justifies bombing villages and civilian areas by falsely claiming residents are terrorists who harbor armed groups. This propaganda is an attempt to legitimize their atrocities. The international community must immediately and robustly counter these lies out of respect for the deceased and to uphold their dignity. The perpetrators of these deliberate air attacks on civilians must be held accountable for their war crimes. Meanwhile, neighboring countries and ASEAN members, who seem to accept the regime’s false narratives, have yet to take a strong stance on the airstrikes.
International human rights organizations, including Fortify Rights, along with Myanmar-led groups and activists, are urging the U.N. Security Council to promptly implement an embargo on aviation fuel and weaponry directed at the Myanmar military regime. Furthermore, it is imperative to ensure the unobstructed delivery of humanitarian assistance to all those in need.
Denying the Myanmar regime jet fuel is not only a humanitarian necessity but also a geopolitical one, aimed at curtailing and ultimately destroying their illegitimate, coup-derived power. The junta’s cruel rule depends on its air superiority, which permits indiscriminate bombings, terrorizing of people, and suppression of opposition. Their military efficacy would collapse without this crucial advantage, as they have already lost control of some three quarters of Myanmar’s territory to the people’s defense forces that seek to restore democracy. An aviation fuel embargo is therefore a necessary tool not just for stopping crimes but also for drastically changing the conflict and guiding Myanmar toward a peaceful future.
Myanmar’s people feel betrayed by the continued toothless “dialogue” promoted by ASEAN as their dire situation persists under an illegitimate regime committing crimes against the people. Meaningful action, not just well-intentioned words, including impartial investigations and international tribunals, is essential to deliver justice.
The people in Myanmar warrant justice for their ongoing and past suffering. The persistent atrocities demand immediate action from the global community, including ASEAN, which has a vested interest in regional stability.
Failure to act now risks prolonging this suffering and implicates the global community in these grave injustices. Following careful diplomatic efforts, a robust and unified international response is imperative to aid the people of Myanmar and ensure accountability for the perpetrators.
This article was originally published in Nikkei Asia.