The Burma Army (BA) massacred more than 60 civilians, including a famous Kachin musician, after sending three jet fighters to bomb an open-air concert commentating the 62nd anniversary of the Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO) in Hpakant Township, Kachin State.
According to eyewitnesses, Aurali was killed by the shelling while he was singing on stage. Lahtaw Zau Ding, an actor and former chair of the Kachin Artist Association, was wounded in the airstrike in the area of Brigade 9 of the KIO’s military wing, the Kachin Independence Army (KIA).
“This shows that the BA is our enemy. They dropped bombs on a music concert. This is clearly genocide. They have committed war crimes,” a local man from Hpakant told KNG, asking that his name not be published.
Other artists, KIA officers and other soldiers are also believed to be among the victims killed at the concert in A Nan Pa at around 8:30pm on 23 October (two days before the official anniversary).
A Nang Pa is about 2 miles from Ginsi (also spell as Kansi) in Hpakant Township.
