The Burma (Myanmar) military in April bombed predominantly Christian, ethnic Kachin civilians and restricted aid to displaced villagers trapped in the wilds, sources said.
Burma government forces fired artillery and dropped bombs on Awng Lawt village in mid-April near the northern town of Tanai, Kachin state, sending 2,000 villagers fleeing their homes, according to local Christian leaders. Sin Gau, a member of Kachin Baptist Convention, told Morning Star News the Burma army also bombed bases of the rebel Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and civilians in nearby villages.
“Fighting continues in Tanai region – villagers are fleeing,” Sin Gau said. “Some arrived in Myitkyina [capital of Kachin state], but some are trapped. Some are missing. We lost contact with them. We don’t hear anything about them.”
Sin Gau said the Burma army also restricted access of aid into conflict-stricken areas where villagers are trapped. There are landmines in nearby villages where fighting is taking place that also make it difficult for local villagers and aid groups to provide aid, he said.
Due to escalating fighting in Tanai and Hpakant in Kachin state since early April, rights groups and the United Nations estimated there are 4,000 displaced people, many of them seeking shelters in church buildings. The displaced include the elderly and children who have…
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