Excerpt
Coup, Crackdown on Protests and Civilian Resistance
On April 2, the Irrawaddy reported that since the March 28 earthquake, the junta had carried out at least 21 airstrikes across Sagaing, Magway regions and Shan, Kachin, Rakhine and Kayah states. Of note, on April 1, the junta bombed a site where 300 youths were en route to attend Kachin Independence Army (“KIA”) military training. Thirty-eight people were killed and 20 others were injured in the bombing, according to a KIA spokesperson.
On April 2, the junta declared a ceasefire in light of the earthquake. The declaration came after China urged the junta regime to prioritize earthquake relief. In response to the declaration, the KIA declared a ceasefire until April 20. However, despite these ceasefire declarations, on the morning of April 3, the junta regime targeted KIA-held Bhamo town and Indaw and Homalin townships in northern Sagaing Region, in addition to Waingmow Township near the Kachin State capital, Myitkyina.