Myanmar Spring Chronicle – February 25 Scene
MoeMaKa, February 26, 2025
Wedding Bombing by Military Junta & Controversy Over “Upper Burma Dubai” Article
On February 22, Irrawaddy News Agency published an article titled “Behind Upper Burma’s Dubai,” detailing corruption, exploitation, and power abuse linked to revenue from hand-dug oil fields in Myaing Township, Magway Region. The article highlighted how the People’s Defense Forces (PDF) were collecting taxes from these oil operations and how some oil drillers supporting the military had abandoned their fields, leaving behind revenue that led to ethical and governance concerns.
The article sparked a heated debate among pro-resistance supporters on social media, with many criticizing and disputing its claims. The controversy escalated further this morning when reports surfaced that a military junta airstrike targeted a PDF member’s wedding in Son Kone Village, one of the locations mentioned in the article. The air raid resulted in at least ten casualties and many others injured.
Some critics linked the article’s publication to the military’s decision to bomb the area, accusing the media of jeopardizing the resistance by exposing sensitive locations. The military’s airstrike targeted a wedding, likely suspecting that armed PDF comrades would attend the event. This suggests that the junta is actively monitoring PDF and People’s Administration Group (PAG) activities and launching attacks accordingly, much like the April 2023 airstrike on a PAG office opening in Pazigyi Village.
Media vs. Military Targets Debate
While some argue that journalists have a duty to report corruption within the resistance, others contend that revealing specific locations and names exposes PDF members to military retaliation. The debate echoes broader concerns about whether media should remain neutral or prioritize the safety of resistance movements.
Some defend the Irrawaddy article, stating that even in resource-rich conflict zones like Hpakant’s jade mines, illicit activities like casinos, brothels, and drug dens naturally emerge. However, if resistance groups misuse power or engage in corruption, the media has a duty to report it.
Military’s Pattern of Daily Airstrikes
The military junta has been conducting daily airstrikes on conflict zones and even non-combat areas controlled by PDFs and ethnic armed groups. While the Son Kone wedding attack may be partially linked to the Irrawaddy article, the military has long been systematically targeting PDF strongholds regardless of media coverage.
This raises a fundamental question: Should journalists refrain from exposing internal corruption to avoid military retaliation, or should they hold all power structures accountable, including the resistance?
In the evolving Spring Revolution, the struggle between press freedom and resistance security remains a complex and contentious issue.