Myanmar’s Weaponization of COVID-19 Date Location 23 March Che Taung, Minbya Township, Rakhine State Civilian Toll Details Air strike occurred hours after the govt declaration of the AA as a terrorist organization. The casualty was a child. 1 killed, 15 injured Link to Source Link to Source Karen State The KNU – an NCA signatory – reported are unwelcomed by the local population and nearly 60 clashes in its territory with the cited by the KNU as a violation of the NCA.96 Myanmar military in the first three months of Progressive Voice has previously described 2020 alone.95 There are also multiple instances these roads as “a form of militarization of the Myanmar military recently shelling that opens up previously inaccessible KNU villages in Karen State’s Mutraw District territory”97 to occupation by the Myanmar (known as Hpapun in Burmese), a stronghold military, and are thereby a threat to human of the KNU and the home of the internationally and environmental rights, ethnic governance, lauded indigenous conservation initiative, the and to peace. Because it has its own Karen- Salween Peace Park. Road construction and led political and social infrastructure, the expansion by the Myanmar military into KNU Salween Peace Park area in Mutraw is cited by territory – ongoing since 2016 – has been cited local leaders as “an example of how to build a as the cause of much of the ongoing fighting federal governing system,” which they add, the in the area. While roads into Mutraw District “military has the objective of destroying.”98 are referred to as development projects by On 31 March, government troops shot dead the Myanmar military and government, they a village headman who had also served as a 95 Network Media Group. “First Months of 2020 See Dozens of Clashes Between Burma Army, KNU.” 2 April 2020. Available at: http://www.nmg-news.com/2020/04/02/10414 96 Sally Kantar. “Military road defies Myanmar national ceasefire, fuels insecurity.” 12 September 2019. Al Jazeera. Available at: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/09/military-road-defies-myanmar-national-ceasefire-fuels-insecurity-190911010244615.html 97 Progressive Voice. “Business as Usual for the Myanmar Military.” 9 April 2020. Available at: https://progressivevoicemyanmar.org/2020/04/09/business-as-usual-for-the-myanmar-military/ 98 KIC. “Interview With KPSN Spokesperson NawWahkhushee.” 22 April 2020. Available at: http://kicnews. org/2020/04/kpsn-%E1%80%B1%E1%80%BB%E1%80%95%E1%80%AC%E1%80%81%E1%80%BC%E1%80%84%E1%80 %B9%E1%80%B7%E1%80%9B-%E1%80%B1%E1%80%94%E1%80%AC%E1%80%B9%E1%80%9D%E1%80%AB%E1%80 %B8%E1%80%81%E1%80%B0%E1%80%9B%E1%80%BD/ 31