Myanmar
(Burma)
Unraveling Myanmar: Diversity, History, and Current Challenges
Myanmar, or better known as Burma, is a Southeast Asian nation with a vast landscape encompassing towering mountains, sprawling plains, and a lengthy coastline. With its remarkable cultural and ethnic multiplicity, Myanmar boasts a melting pot of ethnicities, including the Bamar, Shan, Karen, Rakhine, and various others. This diversity, while a defining feature of the country, has also unfortunately led to internal strife and turmoil at certain times.
The rich history of Myanmar involves ancient civilizations and kingdoms. The British colonised Myanmar in the 19th century, and the country attained independence in 1948. Despite strides towards autonomy, the nation has been plagued by military control and political turmoil. In recent years, Myanmar has faced severe backlash and global scrutiny for its treatment of the Rohingya Muslim minority. The Rohingya continue to suffer from mistreatment and violence, resulting in an alarming humanitarian crisis and widespread displacement.
Myanmar's recent history has been impacted by a multifaceted mix of political, social, and economic influences. Despite some progress, obstacles like conflicts based on ethnicity, concerns about human rights, and instability in politics persist and deeply affect the direction of the nation.
Airstrikes by military
On January 7th, 2024, in the Tamu Township of the Ka Nan Village, Sangai Region, Myanmar, two airstrikes occurred between 10:30 and 10:50, as reported by various sources. Two A-5 fighter jets deployed four explosive ordnances targeting an elementary school, a church, and residential structures.
Damage
Approximately ten residences have been damaged, along with two two-story schools and a Christian church. Furthermore, fifteen large craters have emerged as a result of the bombings, five of which are notably deep.
Denial
The attack was carried out by the military. Though the junta has denied the attacks.
The military council released information regarding it’s forces activities, saying “It is learnt that there was no flight this morning, and the information that the military bombed the village was misinformation.”
Death toll
The incident resulted in the loss of 17 civilians, including 9 children. 20 individuals were severely injured, some undergoing multiple amputations. The bodies have been buried in a mass grave.
Our progress
After thorough analysis of witness testimonies, we successfully identified one of the destroyed sites and pinpointed three potential attack locations. However, the bodies of the victims remain unaccounted for at this time. Our team researching on Myanmar is currently in the progress of locating the mass grave and assessing reported damage to the surrounding terrain.