Myanmar’s parallel National Unity Government (NUG) claimed on Tuesday that the country’s ruling military junta orchestrated an attack on the Munglai Hkyet refugee camp in Kachin, Myanmar. Reportely, the attack resulted in 30 fatalities and 57 injuries.
The NUG alleges that the attack employed heavy artillery and coordinated airstrikes. The parallel government has condemned the attack as a war crime and crime against humanity, pointing out that the military junta chose to launch the attack during the Israel-Hamas conflict, arguably to leverage the international community’s diverted focus.
In its statement, the NUG harshly criticized the military junta’s choice of timing for the attack, appealing to the international community for support:
[The NUG] stands strongly together with the people of Kachin. The [NUG] shares the pain from this tragic loss of many lives in the Kachin state, and commits to work together to our full ability to restore justice for all those affected.
Amid ongoing tension, the Chinese foreign ministry urged peaceful resolution of disputes and encouraged measures to promote security at the China-Myanmar border. Concurrently, the British Embassy called on the military junta to cease attacks against its people. However, Zaw Min Tun, a spokesperson for the military junta, denied allegations concerning its involvement in the attack.
Since overthrowing the previous democratically elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021, Myanmar’s junta has come under increasing international scrutiny for their methods. On July 12, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations condemned Myanmar’s junta for human rights violations and called for an end to indiscriminate violence. The organization also emphasized the need to build an environment conducive to humanitarian assistance within the country.