Myanmar’s junta admitted its troops fired on a Chinese Red Cross convoy carrying aid supplies to earthquake-stricken regions late Tuesday night, claiming it had failed to notify authorities of its travel plans.
The nine-vehicle convoy was heading to Mandalay when it came under fire in Ohnmattee village, Nawnghkio Township, northern Shan State at 9.21 pm.
Junta spokesman Major-General Zaw Min Tun admitted on Wednesday that regime troops had fired shots, but insisted they were only warning shots after the trucks failed to stop.
“Our military forces encountered the convoy and stopped it by firing three warning shots into the air at a distance of about 100 meters,” he said.
The convoy had not reported to authorities or the Chinese Embassy in advance, he added. It turned back to Nawnghkio town after the warning shots.
The ethnic Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) stated that the convoy of nine trucks was attacked by regime forces with automatic weapons on Tuesday night in Ommathi village, near where both junta and TNLA troops are deployed. The TNLA
The TNLA, which controls Nawnghkio, said it would take over responsibility for protecting the Chinese convoy as it delivered essential aid to earthquake victims. The rebel group condemned the junta’s actions, highlighting the military’s disregard for humanitarian efforts amid a devastating natural disaster.
The incident comes as Myanmar is desperate to secure international aid to cope with the aftermath of a 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck the country last Friday.
The quake ripped through Mandalay, Sagaing, Magwe, Bago, Naypyitaw and parts of southern Shan State, claiming at least 2,700 lives as of Wednesday.
“This attack proves the junta’s continued hostility, even amid widespread suffering due to the earthquake,” said a Mandalay resident. “They are prioritizing violence over crucial relief efforts.”
On Wednesday, China strongly urged all parties in Myanmar to ensure the safety of earthquake relief workers and supplies from China and other countries. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun added that relief supplies were now on their way to the quake-hit area of Mandalay, Xinhua reported.
The attack on the aid convoy occurred alongside reports of continued airstrikes by the junta on civilian populations throughout the country, as well as in Nawnghkio where junta troops have been locked in battle with TNLA and allied forces for months.
Junta drone and air strikes injured five civilians and damaged homes in Taung Hla and Gurkha villages in Nawnghkio on April 1, according to the TNLA. A day earlier, a regime drone dropped 120mm bombs on nearby Kyaukkyan village, it added.
The TNLA accused the junta of deliberately targeting civilians despite declaring a post-quake period of national mourning from March 31 to April 6. The group urged civilians to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions against potential regime airstrikes.
Rescue operations are ongoing despite the violence, with teams from at least 15 countries bolstering domestic efforts. This collective push has led to the rescue of several victims who were trapped for days in the rubble of collapsed buildings in the earthquake zone.
However, the junta has been blamed for worsening the death toll by delaying and mismanaging rescue operations. Meanwhile, residents across the quake zone have fled damaged homes and are sleeping outdoors amid concern over aftershocks.
