The military council spokesperson Zaw Min Tun has stated that there is no cause for concern regarding the legal proceedings against Min Aung Hlaing and military leaders in international courts, including the International Criminal Court (ICC). He made these remarks during an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera media. The international community is currently strongly condemning the military’s crimes against civilians, including airstrikes, and legal proceedings are being pursued in courts in Indonesia, Turkey, the Philippines, and the ICC. The recent arrest and transfer of former Philippine President Duterte to the ICC has raised questions about whether military leaders are worried about similar actions.
When asked about these concerns, Zaw Min Tun responded that there was absolutely nothing to worry about. He claimed that People’s Defense Forces (PDF) stay in villages wearing civilian clothes while attacking the military, and when the military retaliates, they become civilians. He asserted this was the responsibility of the PDFs. He further stated that the military’s primary focus would remain on peace and protecting the public, regardless of actions by the ICC or others. The military council spokesperson attempted to justify their actions by suggesting that civilian casualties were inevitable in conflict situations.
Regarding the April 11, 2023 airstrike on Pa Zi Gyi village in Sagaing Region’s Kanbalu Township, which resulted in 168 civilian deaths including children, Zaw Min Tun acknowledged the attack occurred but claimed the deceased children were part of what he termed ‘insurgent organizations.’ He stated that there would be no reason to attack such locations if people did not support or collaborate with what he called insurgents. He further claimed that while the airstrike and resulting civilian deaths were real, they were collateral damage that could not be avoided in warfare. The military council spokesperson maintained that such attacks would not occur in areas where people did not support resistance forces, effectively attempting to shift blame for civilian casualties onto the local population’s support for anti-military forces.
