The French government has issued its strongest condemnation of the military council’s aerial bombing of a school in Ohtein Kwin village, Depayin Township, Sagaing Region, which resulted in the deaths of students and teachers. The attack, which occurred on May 12, caused dozens of civilian casualties, primarily children, with many others sustaining injuries. The incident has drawn sharp criticism from the international community for targeting civilians, particularly in an educational facility.
According to the French Foreign Ministry’s statement, this attack on civilians directly contradicts the military council’s own declared ceasefire. The statement emphasized that this mass killing of civilians appears to be part of the military council’s systematic strategy of aerial attacks. The French government particularly noted that similar airstrikes had been carried out even in areas recently affected by earthquakes, demonstrating a pattern of targeting vulnerable populations.
The French government expressed its deepest condolences to the families of the victims and all those affected by this tragic incident, affirming its firm stance alongside the people of Myanmar. The statement called for immediate respect for international humanitarian law, an end to violence, and urged all parties involved in the conflict to engage in dialogue to find a peaceful resolution. France emphasized the importance of protecting civilian lives and ensuring that such attacks on innocent people, especially children, must cease immediately.
Similarly, the Canadian government issued a statement expressing grave concern over the airstrike on the school in Depayin Township and the resulting civilian casualties. Canada demanded that the military council immediately reduce its violent attacks, provide protection for civilians, and comply with international law. The international community’s unified response to these brutal attacks on innocent civilians demonstrates growing global concern over the military council’s actions against its own people. Both nations stressed the urgent need for the military council to cease its campaign of violence and engage in meaningful dialogue to resolve the ongoing crisis in Myanmar.
