On Wednesday, tragedy struck the remote village of Vuilu in Myanmar’s Chin State, as a military jet bombed a school, resulting in the death of eleven people, including eight children. The village, situated in the mountainous region, has become a focal point of resistance against the military junta. Residents reveal that there were no insurgents based in Vuilu, a small village with less than 80 households. Eyewitness accounts on social media describe how military aircraft dropped at least two bombs on the village, resulting in the destruction of a makeshift school set up in one of the houses. The indiscriminate bombing claimed the lives of the eight children, aged between seven and eleven, as well as three adults who were studying alongside them. Furthermore, the bombs caused substantial damage to other houses and two churches in the village. It is important to note that there has been no recent fighting near Vuilu, leaving the locals questioning the motives behind the military strike.
The military government in Myanmar has been facing a series of defeats in attacks by opposition forces across the country over the past few weeks. In response, the government heavily relies on air power to strike back. The armed forces of Myanmar have been engaged in a civil war with various armed groups since 2021, when the military junta overtook the elected government. The conflict has led to ethnic Chin insurgents rising up against the junta, with communities in Chin State being among the first to take up arms. Locally-formed militias united under the Chin Defence Force and acquired modern weapons from neighboring India. This insurgency successfully captured multiple military bases, confining government forces to fortified barracks in main towns. The Chin people, primarily Christians, have long voiced grievances regarding neglect and mistreatment by the central government. However, no insurgent activity was reported in Vuilu, making the military strike on the village even more perplexing.
Chin State, particularly the south near the town of Paletwa, has also experienced clashes between the military and the Arakan Army insurgents, who control significant portions of neighboring Rakhine State. These conflicts have resulted in a volatile and tense situation in the region. The recent escalation of violence in Shan State, along the border with China, has further destabilized the country. An alliance of three ethnic minority armed groups, along with pro-democracy fighters, has launched fierce offensives against the junta. The military-installed president has expressed concerns about the possibility of Myanmar breaking apart if the government fails to control the fighting in Shan State.
The UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, has also expressed deep concern over the escalating conflict in Myanmar. The ongoing violence has already displaced over two million people across the country, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. As the international community closely monitors the situation, it is crucial to address the pressing issues of human rights violations, displacement, and the urgent need for peaceful resolution in Myanmar.
