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A6 WORLD NEWS
Wednesday 12 april 2023
Airstrikes on Myanmar village feared to have killed 100

By GRANT PECK People’s Defense Forces
Associated Press around the site.
BANGKOK (AP) — Airstrikes In response to accusations
by Myanmar’s military on of abuses, the military gov-
Tuesday killed as many ernment often accuses
as 100 people, including pro-democracy forces of
many children, who were terrorism. But analysts for
attending a ceremony the United Nations and
held by opponents of army non-governmental orga-
rule, said a witness, a mem- nizations have gathered
ber of a local pro-democ- credible evidence of large-
racy group and indepen- scale human rights abuses
dent media. The military is by the army, including the
increasingly using airstrikes burning of entire villages
to counter a widespread and displacement of more
armed struggle against its This photo provided by the Kyunhla Activists Group shows aftermath of an airstrike in Pazigyi than a million people, trig-
rule, which began in Feb- village in Sagaing Region’s Kanbalu Township, Myanmar, Tuesday, April 11, 2023. gering a humanitarian
ruary 2021 when it seized Associated Press crisis. The death toll from
power from the elected authorities. Initial reports put injured. While the wounded to the army. The office be- Tuesday’s air attack, if con-
government of Aung San the death toll at around 50, were being transported, ing opened Tuesday was firmed, could be the high-
Suu Kyi. More than 3,000 but later tallies reported by a helicopter arrived and part of its administrative est in more than two years
civilians are estimated to independent media raised shot more people. We are network. The military gov- of civil conflict that be-
have been killed since then it to about 100. It was im- now cremating the bodies ernment’s spokesperson, gan when the army seized
by security forces. possible to independently quickly.” About 150 people Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun, ac- power in 2021. As many
A witness told The Associ- confirm details of the in- had gathered for the open- knowledged in a statement as 80 people were killed
ated Press that a fighter jet cident because reporting ing ceremony, and women phoned to state television last October in another
dropped bombs directly is restricted by the military and 20-30 children were MRTV that the ceremony government air attack in
into a crowd of people who government. among the dead, he said, had been attacked, but northern Myanmar on an
were gathering at 8 a.m. “I was standing a short adding that those killed also accused anti-government anniversary celebration of
for the opening of a local distance from the crowd included leaders of locally forces in the area of carry- the Kachin ethnic minority’s
office of the country’s op- when a friend of mine con- formed anti-government ing out a violent campaign main political organization,
position movement outside tacted me on the phone armed groups and other of terror. He said the Peo- which is also battling the
Pazigyi village in Sagaing about the approach of a opposition organizations. ple’s Defense Forces the military government.
region’s Kanbalu township. fighter jet,” the witness said. ‘This heinous act by the ter- armed wing of the National Myanmar has been in tur-
The area is about 110 kilo- “The jet dropped bombs di- rorist military is yet another Unity Government had ter- moil since the army take-
meters (70 miles) north of rectly on the crowd, and I example of their indiscrimi- rorized residents into sup- over triggered widespread
Mandalay, the country’s jumped into a nearby ditch nate use of extreme force porting them, killing Bud- popular opposition. After
second largest city. and hid. A few moments against innocent civilians, dhist monks, teachers and peaceful demonstrations
About half an hour later, a later, when I stood up and constituting a war crime,” other people, while the were put down with lethal
helicopter appeared and looked around, I saw peo- the opposition National military sought peace and force, many opponents of
fired at the site, said the ple cut to pieces and dead Unity Government said in a stability. He said there was military rule took up arms,
witness, who asked not to in the smoke. The office statement. The NUG calls it- evidence the attack had and large parts of the
be identified because he building was destroyed by self the country’s legitimate set off secondary blasts of country are now embroiled
feared punishment by the fire. About 30 people were government, in opposition explosives hidden by the in conflict. q

1st woman to lead U.K. communications

intelligence agency GCHQ

LONDON (AP) — Anne Ke- impressive track record- nounced in January that
ast-Butler, who has spent working at the heart of the he would step down after
30 years working in nation- U.K.’s national security net- six years in the post.
al security for Britain, was work; helping to counter She’s the first woman to
named Tuesday as the first threats posed by terrorists, lead a U.K. intelligence
woman to head the U.K.’s cyber-criminals and malign agency since Eliza Man-
communications intelli- foreign powers,” Foreign ningham-Buller retired from
gence agency. Secretary James Cleverly MI5 in 2007.
Keast-Butler, currently dep- said in announcing her ap- Keast-Butler said she was
uty director general at MI5, pointment. looking forward to returning
the domestic intelligence In her current post, Keast- to the agency where she Undated handout photo issued by GCHQ of Anne Keast-Butler.
Associated Press
agency, will head the Butler has been responsible previously worked as head
Government Communica- for operational, investiga- of counter terrorism and se- today as it was when it was In the past year, the agen-
tions Headquarters better tive and protective security rious organized crime. founded more than 100 cy has provided intelli-
known as GCHQ. Her ap- work that included prepar- GCHQ collects intelligence years ago, operating at the gence on the Ukraine inva-
pointment comes as intel- ing for and responding to through communications very heart of the U.K. and sion, helped disrupt terror
ligence agencies focus Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. to prevent cyber-attacks, our allies’ response to some plots and tried to stop ran-
on threats from Russia and Keast-Butler will start her terrorism and espionage. of the most challenging is- somware attacks, Keast-
China. new job in May, replacing “GCHQ’s mission to keep sues of our time,” Keast-But- Butler said.q
“Anne Keast-Butler has an Jeremy Fleming, who an- the U.K. safe is as inspiring ler said.