Myanmar and the ‘Responsibility to Protect’ principle
Burma’s Permanent Representative to the U.N. Kyaw Moe Tun addressed a general assembly plenary meeting on the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) and the prevention of genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity, at the U.N. headquarters in New York City on Wednesday. He claimed that the number killed by the military since the 2021 coup has surpassed 6,800.
“I have reminded time and again the international community to uphold this noble commitment on R2P and transform it into meaningful action. Now, another year marking the unlawful military coup, there has been a disheartening absence of any meaningful progress. People and the country have been enduring the egregious atrocities perpetrated by the ruthless military,” he told delegates.
The R2P principle, adopted by the U.N. in 2005, states that the international community has a “responsibility to intervene when a state fails to protect its population from mass atrocities.” The National Unity Government (NUG) has documented 608 civilians killed and 1,308 injured in 982 regime attacks since the earthquake on March 28 up to June 16, the same number of casualties collected by DVB data.
Seven killed by airstrikes on mines in Karenni State
At least seven civilians were killed and over 20 others were injured by airstrikes carried out by the Burma Air Force on mining sites in Mawchi town of Hpasawng Township on Wednesday. Hpasawng is located 73 miles (117 km) south of the Karenni State capital Loikaw. Both are under regime control along with Bawlakhe Township.
The Tun Myanmar Donation group, which assists people living at Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps, accused the regime of targeting civilians. Mawchi is located 19 miles (30 km) west of Hpasawng town, where resistance forces reportedly launched an offensive on the two remaining regime Light Infantry Battalions (LIB) 134 and 135 on June 25.
Sources told DVB that at least 16 civilians have been killed and over 50 have been injured in six airstrikes on Mawchi since March. During his opening speech at the regime “peace talks” with ethnic armed groups in Naypyidaw on Wednesday, Min Aung Hlaing urged resistance groups to stop fighting and join negotiations. Read more
Twenty regime troops killed in Bago Region
The NUG announced on Wednesday that the People’s Defence Force (PDF) killed at least 20 regime troops during a simultaneous offensive on nine regime outposts along the 17-mile (27 km) stretch of the old Yangon-Mandalay highway between Nyaunglebin and Kyauktaga towns in Bago Region on Wednesday.
The NUG added that one PDF member has been killed so far during the offensive. The two towns are located 50-77 miles (80-124 km) north of the region’s capital Bago. A PDF spokesperson told DVB that 13 regime troops killed in the clash had been stationed at an outpost in Tawwi village, located between the two towns.
The PDF said the outpost originally had 50 regime troops stationed inside, but some had abandoned it. Three prisoners were captured, along with 16 weapons of varying calibers and ammunition. The NUG stated that the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) joined the offensive, but did not provide further details.
News by Region
MANDALAY—Residents of Mogok told DVB that three civilians, including a child, were injured by an airstrike on Wednesday. Mogok is located 124 miles (200 km) northeast of Mandalay. It was seized by the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) in July.
“The airstrike struck a house near the monastery in Ohnkaing Ward. We only heard the aircraft after the bomb exploded,” a Mogok resident told DVB. The TNLA reported that at least six buildings, including a monastery, were either damaged or destroyed.
SHAN—The TNLA released a statement on Wednesday claiming that regime forces have dropped a total of 237 bombs, including 60 from Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), or drones, and have fired 175 artillery shells in Nawnghkio Township on June 23-24.
The statement added that regime forces have taken advantage of the temporary ceasefire to attack TNLA forces. No casualties were reported in the attacks. Nawnghkio is located 96 miles (154 km) south of the region’s capital Lashio. It came under TNLA control on July 10.
A resident of Nansang Township in southern Shan told Shwe Phee Myay News Agency that a father and his two-year-old child died in a landslide caused by persistent heavy rains on Thursday. Nansang is located 72 miles (115 km) east of the state capital Taunggyi.
“The houses are built right on the slopes [of a hill]. Since it’s just a bamboo house, it was more vulnerable,” a Nansang resident told Shwe Phee Myay. Heavy rainfall since the last week of May has caused landslides in some areas of Nansang.
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