15 organizations call for strong international condemnation of the SAC's airstrikes

Photo – The Arakan Army (AA) announced yesterday (July 24) that two consecutive days of airstrikes by the SAC forces on Thandwe Township on July 23 and 24 resulted in the deaths of three civilians, including a pregnant woman, and injuries to 21 others, including two children under the age of 10. Mizzima. A joint statement was issued yesterday (July 24) by 15 organizations calling on the international community to strongly condemn, in various ways, the actions of the SAC, which is continuously carrying out daily airstrikes targeting civilians across Myanmar. The statement stated that the SAC is openly committing human rights violations such as targeting civilians with animosity due to its deteriorating situation on various battlefronts across the country, carrying out airstrikes, shelling with heavy weapons, blockades, mass killings, and burning down houses. "We appeal to the international public, international organizations, the people of Myanmar, and various organizations that desire justice, who value human life and dignity, to strongly condemn these abhorrent actions of the Min Aung Hlaing SAC in various ways," the joint statement said. The statement also said that due to the SAC's daily airstrikes, civilians, including monks, the elderly, students, and children, are continuously dying, and these operations are going beyond military objectives to target and destroy human life and dignity. The joint statement was jointly released by the Communist Party of Burma, the New Social Democratic Party, the Social Democratic Party, the Federation of Trade Unions of Burma, the Federation of Farmers' Unions of Burma, the 1974/75/76 Political Forces (in exile), the New Social Youth (YNS), the Network for Revolution Against Dictatorship and People's Defense (DRPDN), the General Strike Committee Against Military Dictatorship, the Tamwe Township Strike Committee, the Thaketa Township Strike Committee, the Mingalar Taung Nyunt Township General Strike Committee, the All Kachin Students' Federation, and the Anya Memory Lisu Youth Organization. Similarly, the Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG) stated in a report released on July 22 that the SAC's human rights abuses and crimes have led to a further increase in mass displacement within Karen State, urging the international community to avoid actions that could legitimize the SAC. Furthermore, the Kachin Human Rights Watch (KHRW) stated in a report released on July 13 that due to the lack of effective international action, the military is becoming more emboldened to commit inhumane acts against civilians. KHRW pointed out that the failure of international governments to effectively block and sanction aviation fuel, weapons, and financial resources reaching the SAC is not a neutral stance but is tantamount to allowing the SAC to continue its airstrikes against civilians. Editor – Thant Zaw (Thanlyin)