Myanmar Spring Chronicle – August 2nd Scene
(Moe Ma Ka) August 3, 2024
The Bombing Between Civilian and Military Hospitals
The MNDAA armed group has been intensively attacking for nearly a month to capture Lashio town and the regional military headquarters. Recently, the MNDAA attacked and seized a military hospital. In response, the military council attacked a hospital in Laukkai from the air as a retaliatory strike for the Lashio hospital attack.
News outlets and some Telegram channels affiliated with the military council claimed that during the seizure of the Lashio military hospital, the MNDAA troops killed nearly 100 patients and hospital staff. However, no solid evidence such as photos or videos has surfaced to support these claims.
A video file, believed to be released by the MNDAA, showed people, presumably family members of soldiers and patients, leaving the hospital with their hands on their heads. This seems to indicate that no killings took place as those surrendering were not harmed.
Following the attack on the military hospital, the military council bombed the area around the Laukkai hospital, reportedly killing at least 10 people. Both sides accuse each other of violating international agreements that must be adhered to in wartime by attacking hospitals.
Similar instances have occurred before, such as when the military council bombed a hospital in Saungphwe village in Kayah State last year, and a hospital in Minbya Township in Rakhine State controlled by the AA. The recent attacks on hospitals in Lashio and Laukkai are more severe in scale than previous incidents.
Regarding the attacks on hospitals in Rakhine State, during the first Hai-Geng peace talks, the AA urged the military council not to target hospitals, to which a deputy general of the military council had previously justified such attacks by claiming that armed groups were receiving treatment there.
These types of attacks on hospitals and schools are not unique to Myanmar but have occurred in other parts of the world experiencing armed conflicts. For instance, in the Ukraine-Russia war, both sides occupied and defended schools and hospitals, leading to civilian casualties and international criticism.
In recent days, the MNDAA has issued statements calling for international intervention against the airstrikes on Laukkai, specifically addressing China. China has generally maintained a stance that armed groups should negotiate and reconcile and has voiced concerns about protecting its investments and interests in the region.
The first 1027 operation succeeded in brokering a ceasefire through Chinese mediation, but the ongoing second operation has yet to yield any results from Chinese intervention. China is reportedly pushing for a second round of Hai-Geng peace talks, but the military council has yet to participate, citing mistrust from the failure of the first ceasefire agreement.
The current battles are far from the Chinese border, in places like Lashio and Kyaukme, and therefore, do not directly impact China’s border security.
The situation represents one of the most critical periods for the Myanmar military, which lost the Lashio military headquarters for the first time in over 50 years. The military now faces a dilemma: relying on Chinese support or the assistance of the Wa armed group or invoking nationalist sentiment to continue the fight.