Reactions of revolutionary forces on junta's artillery attacks at Munglai Hkyet IDP camp

The Incident

At around 11 p.m. on October 9, 2023, the terrorist junta deliberately fired heavy artillery at the Mung Lai Hkyet camp for displaced people near Laiza, Kachin State. The shelling killed 32 displaced civilians, including 13 children, and injured more than 20. Most of the dead were women, and more than 50 shelters for displaced people were destroyed.

KIA

"I just want to say this is genocide against the ethnic people." – Colonel Naw Bu (KIA) (by phone to The New York Times)

NUG

Ambassador U Kyaw Moe Tun, Myanmar's representative representing the National Unity Government (NUG), raised the attack on the Mung Lai Hkyet camp in the general debate of the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) of the 78th UN General Assembly on October 10.  In his statement, he also called for a comprehensive arms embargo and a halt to aviation fuel shipments to stop the terrorist junta's inhumane and brutal killing of the people of Myanmar.

GSCB

The GSCB issued a statement calling not only for pressure on and opposition to the terrorist junta's war crimes, but also for efforts to designate it a terrorist group committing international crimes and to prosecute and punish it through international justice mechanisms, as well as for effective support for the victims.

KSCC

The KSCC stated that the terrorist junta's inhumane attack on the displacement camp is unacceptable to those striving for genuine peace and federal democracy, and that it will fight until the military dictators and all dictators fall.

NUG

The NUG announced a call for the international community to take timely, strong and effective action under UN Security Council Resolution 2669 to stop such crimes by the terrorist junta and prevent similar ones.

Legal Aid Network

The network stated that, firmly upholding the principle that perpetrators must be punished and justice sought based on the rule of law, it will work from the perspective of international law to hold them accountable.

Sagaing Forum Formation Group

The group announced that since there is no option but to completely remove the terrorist junta, which targets civilians and commits war crimes, it must be decisively crushed together with the relevant revolutionary forces.

AFCC

The AFCC stated that the attack is a flagrant war crime violating the rules in Article 8 of the Rome Statute, and that during transitional justice it will work to ensure accountability for the terrorist junta's war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, and to restore justice for the victims.

SURC

The SURC said the terrorist junta's mass killing of innocent civilians to terrorize the people, every time its military losses mount, is utterly despicable, and urged people across the country to take part with all their strength and without giving up, for justice and the success of the revolution.

Three Brotherhood Alliance (MNTJP/PSLF/ULA)

The alliance stated that the terrorist junta's vengeful, malicious targeting of civilians because of its military and political defeats amounts to crimes against humanity and war crimes, and that it stands in solidarity with the Kachin people and the Kachin Independence Organization/Kachin Independence Army (KIO/KIA) for justice and truth. At the same time as the attack on the Mung Lai Hkyet camp, the junta also shelled an AA camp in Laiza with heavy artillery, killing one member and injuring ten.

CRPH

The CRPH called on the international community to work together, recognizing that only effective international action can stop the terrorist junta's inhumane violence, and to impose an arms embargo and stronger sanctions to ensure accountability for the attack on the Mung Lai Hkyet camp and other crimes.

PRA – Magway

PRA Magway stated that the terrorist junta's attack on the Mung Lai Hkyet camp was a cowardly attack rather than fighting as soldiers, and that the junta must inevitably be held accountable in the transitional period for the human rights violations and cowardly acts it has committed since the coup. Its statement also said such cowardly attacks will not break the revolutionary spirit but will be met with the people's anger, and that it will fight and crush the junta by every political and military means.

KSCM

The KSCM said the terrorist junta's brutal bombardment of the Mung Lai Hkyet camp in Laiza was a deliberate attack on the Kachin people and a warning that more such violent killings may occur as long as the junta is not uprooted. It said it will fight alongside the Kachin people for the fall of the dictatorship, and urged democracy-loving people to take part to the end by every available means, in addition to boycotting the Myanmar junta.

DPNS

The DPNS stated that the terrorist junta has repeatedly committed war crimes in places including Mung Lai Hkyet in Laiza, Hpakant's A Nant Pa, Pazigyi in Sagaing and Hpruso in Karenni, such as targeted bombing and shooting of civilians and burning people alive; that such tragedies will keep happening as long as the junta is not uprooted; and that it will fight from whatever role it has, together with revolutionary forces and people of all ethnicities, to abolish military dictatorship once and for all.

Magway People's Struggle Committee

Magway Region people's/strike committees stated that international governments and organizations must not only pressure and object to the terrorist junta's war crimes and genocide, including the attack on the Mung Lai Hkyet camp that killed many civilians, but must also work together to practically prosecute and punish it through international justice mechanisms. The signatories include the Pakokku People's Struggle Committee, the Magway People's Struggle Committee, the Myaing Township Basic Education General Strike Committee, the Yaw People's Struggle Committee and the Yesagyo Township Mass Strike Leading Committee, and the statement said that taking part in the revolution to completely remove the terrorist junta is the only answer. 

Kachin Human Rights Watch (KHRW)

KHRW strongly condemned the attack on the Mung Lai Hkyet camp and called for effective action against organizations and individuals supporting the terrorist junta's unlawful violence, and for the junta, which directly commits war crimes, to be brought before an international court as soon as possible.

People's Liberation Army (PLA)  

The PLA stated that targeting a displacement camp is not only inhumane but a war crime and a cowardly act unworthy of being called soldiers, and that it will fight alongside oppressed people, ethnic groups and fellow ethnic brothers until military dictatorship is uprooted.

Student Unions

Kachin-based student unions, as well as Mandalay- and Monywa-based student unions, issued a statement calling on the United Nations and international organizations to declare a No Fly Zone to stop the terrorist junta's use of air power to target civilians, and to impose sanctions immediately halting arms sales and aviation fuel shipments to the junta. Eighteen student unions joined the call, from Myitkyina University, the University of Computer Studies (Myitkyina), Myitkyina Technological University, the Agricultural Institute (Myitkyina), Myitkyina Education Degree College, Myitkyina Nursing Training School, Myitkyina Midwifery Training School, Mohnyin University, Mohnyin Government Technical College, Bhamo University, the University of Computer Studies Bhamo, Bhamo Nursing Training School, the University of Medicine – Mandalay, Mandalay Technological University, Mandalay University of Foreign Languages, Monywa University of Economics and Mandalay Technical High School.

ICNCC

The ICNCC appealed to the international community, including neighbouring countries, to jointly reject and condemn the terrorist junta, saying its attack on the Mung Lai Hkyet camp disregarded civilians' right to life and amounted to genocide against minority ethnic groups. Noting that this is a critical time in the country's history, it also urged minority ethnic groups, including the Kachin and Chin, and Spring Revolution forces to stand united, never let go of each other's hands, and do their utmost to reach their common goal.

CNF

On October 11, the CNF announced that the terrorist junta's attack on the Mung Lai Hkyet camp, which killed at least 30 people and injured at least 50, was a despicable act and genocide amounting to a grave war crime. Its statement called for the junta to be ostracized, opposed and punished by all means, and said it will keep fighting alongside its Kachin brothers born of the same womb.

PNFC

The PNFC stated that the attack on the Mung Lai Hkyet camp was a war crime committed by the terrorist junta "with premeditated intent to cause mass death and destruction", that the military has become the enemy of the people, and that the Pa-O people will join the whole people of the hills and plains, including the Kachin people, in resistance.

TPCC

The TPCC said it regards the terrorist junta's attack on the Mung Lai Hkyet camp, targeting civilians, as nothing but genocide violating international human rights law, and called on neighbouring countries and the international community to jointly ostracize and condemn the junta.

Blood Money Campaign (BMC) / GSCN

They said the Mung Lai Hkyet camp incident proves the terrorist junta will not hesitate to commit any war crime against the people to stay in power, and called on the international community not only to punish the perpetrators but also to strengthen sanctions to prevent the junta from obtaining aviation fuel, related supplies and destructive weapons.

WLB

The WLB said the attack on the Mung Lai Hkyet camp near Laiza, Kachin State, is a war crime, that decades of attacks on ethnic peoples have also damaged human rights and humanity, and called for the international community to impose sanctions on the terrorist junta, including on aviation fuel, and to help the victims.

(Note: More responses will continue to be compiled.)