Photo:CJ
Mizzima
The Kalay Township People’s Strike Steering Committee reported on 11 April that Military Council troops had killed 80 civilians in the clashes occurring between February and April in Kalay Township, Sagaing Region.
Based on lists compiled by the Kalay Township People’s Strike Steering Committee, fatalities numbered fifteen in east of the township, thirty in its northern section, and thirty-five in its southern region.
An official from the Kalay Township People’s Strike Steering Committee said, “Over the course of these three months, 65 percent of the deceased were women, 15 percent were men, and the remaining 20 percent were children, with the youngest being a two-year-old child. The causes of death were attributed to artillery fire, drone strikes, airstrikes, arrests, and killings.”
Furthermore, the People’s Strike Steering Committee official noted that the casualty list correlated with records compiled by healthcare and civil society organizations in both the northern and southern areas of Kalay Township, as well as information gathered from frontline people.
This official also emphasized that the Military Council’s actions, targeting civilians, amounted to open war crimes, and urged the global community to take notice.
The strike leader called for an immediate implementation of essential prohibitions against the Military Council and emphasized the urgency of addressing ongoing acts of terrorism.
Fierce clashes have occurred in Kalay Township between the Military Council and the People’s Defense Forces since the coup.
Local reports allege that, in addition to civilian casualties, the Military Council army has also destroyed residential homes, schools, and religious buildings through artillery shelling, airstrikes, arson, and drone attacks in the township and its surrounding villages.
