THE Malaysian hAdvisory Group on Myanmar as strongly condemned airstrikes in the country and urged the country’s regime to end its campaign of violence against its people.

Its chairman Syed Hamid Albar said the indiscriminate use of force against civilians is a violation of international law and human rights.

“The international community must take urgent action to put an end to this crisis and hold the Myanmar regime accountable for its actions.

“We stand in solidarity with the people of Myanmar in their struggle for peace, justice and democracy,” he said in a statement.

Syed Hamid was condemning the airstrike on April 11 in the Pazi Gyi village in the Kanbula township of Sagaing Region where over 100 innocent lives were lost including women and children,  injuring at least 30 others.

“The attack on Pazi Gyi village was followed by several rounds of gunfire from an Mi-35 combat helicopter, causing further damage to the already affected community.

“This horrifying incident is just one example of the violence that has been escalating in Myanmar since the military coup in February 2021, breaching International Humanitarian Law and the Geneva Conventions.”

On April 12, Foreign Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir said Malaysia is against any form of violence or harsh treatment towards civilians in response to the Myanmar junta’s deadly airstrike, organised by what the regime claimed were insurgent opponents.

Expressing Malaysia’s concern, Zambry said Asean chair Indonesia alerted Malaysia about the development in Myanmar.

“We are quite concerned about this (airstrike) and Indonesia will come up with a statement soon.

“Malaysia’s position (is that) we are against any form of violence taking place in Myanmar, and that is the position of Asean as a whole,” he said.

Syed Hamid said according to local sources, children aged between two and three years old were among the victims of the attack, as they were gathered in the area where the air strikes occurred.

He said the conflict in Myanmar has resulted in widespread and systematic attacks on civilians by security forces.

“This includes killing protesters, enforced disappearances, torture, sexual abuse, rape, and mass detentions.

“Many of the 1,200 people killed since the coup were unarmed protesters and bystanders. Security forces have used lethal force, even when there was no apparent threat.”

Syed Hamid added that Asean member states need to address the issue and called on the countries to put pressure on Myanmar.

“The failure to stop the escalation of violence against civilians in Myanmar is the clearest sign that Asean’s five points of consensus are failing.

“We urge all Asean members to assert the strongest possible pressure on Myanmar to immediately see all forms of violence against civilians before more innocent lives are slaughtered.” – April 14, 2023.