Myanmar Spring Chronicle – January 9 Perspective
MoeMaKa, January 10, 2025
Airstrikes Result in Significant Civilian Casualties
On January 8, the military junta conducted an airstrike on Kyauk Nimaung village in Ramree Township, Rakhine State, resulting in reports of at least 40 civilian deaths and over 50 injuries. This village is predominantly inhabited by the Kaman ethnic group, a Muslim minority that has faced long-standing discrimination and restricted rights due to their religion and ethnicity.
Kyauk Nimaung village was a focal point of ethnic and religious conflicts in Rakhine State, particularly during the clashes of June 2012. For over a decade since, residents have dealt with movement restrictions and systemic discrimination under successive military regimes. The Kaman community has also endured limitations on citizenship and human rights.
In March 2024, the Arakan Army (AA) seized Ramree Island, located southeast of Kyaukphyu. The military junta has since lost control of several key areas, including Gwa and Ann townships, leaving only Sittwe and Kyaukphyu under their administration in Rakhine State. This has led the junta to increasingly rely on airstrikes as a means of asserting influence, targeting towns and villages under AA control.
Expanded Airstrike Operations
Recent days have seen airstrikes extend beyond Rakhine State. The military targeted TNLA-controlled areas in Mogok, reportedly dropping around 20 bombs, as well as MNDAA-held Theinni in Northern Shan State and areas in Kayah and Kachin states. Although these strikes caused limited casualties, the Kyauk Nimaung incident alone resulted in at least 40 civilian deaths, over 50 injuries, and the destruction of approximately 500 homes.
The motivations behind the attack on Kyauk Nimaung, a village not engaged in ongoing conflict, remain unclear. However, targeting civilian homes and markets further highlights the junta’s war crimes and human rights violations, adding to their record of attacks on non-combatant populations.
Shifting Military Tactics
The junta’s airstrikes now often target regions it no longer controls, using information from local informants or even without reliable intelligence. Unlike pre-coup airstrikes that supported ground operations, recent actions focus on indiscriminate bombing to destabilize areas held by ethnic armed organizations (EAOs).
These tactics reflect a shift in strategy, with airstrikes used to retaliate against territorial losses rather than to directly aid ground troops. Civilian casualties and displacement have become frequent, as seen in Karenni State, where refugee camps and makeshift schools have been repeatedly targeted.
International Response and Challenges
Efforts to restrict the junta’s access to aviation fuel and spare parts have faced challenges, as some regional countries continue to supply these materials. The dual-use nature of aviation fuel, needed for both civilian and military purposes, complicates enforcement of sanctions. For instance, Vietnam’s Communist Party-led government has maintained economic ties with Myanmar’s military, including the sale of aviation fuel.
Despite these international efforts, airstrikes remain the junta’s preferred method of exerting pressure and retaliating against resistance, even as their effectiveness in regaining ground remains limited. The ongoing reliance on air power underscores the regime’s inability to achieve stability through ground control, raising concerns about the continued suffering of civilians caught in the crossfire.