The Kachin community in Australia has been left reeling after an attack on a music festival in their home state in Myanmar.
"Everyone was shocked by this tragic news," Australian Kachin woman Mi Ka Lagwi told the ABC.
Initial reports suggested more than 60 people had been killed after military jets dropped four bombs on the celebration in a village in Hpakant township, which marked the 62nd anniversary of the Kachin Independence Army's (KIA) political wing.
It appears to be the deadliest single strike since the military overthrew the government in a coup d'etat in February last year.
The military's information office confirmed an attack had taken place, describing it as a "necessary" operation at what it described as a KIA base, in response to "terrorist" acts and ambushes. It said reports of high fatalities were "rumours" and "fake news" and claimed it met international rules of engagement.
Manny Maung from Human Rights Watch said the military had blocked road access which prevented the injured from seeking medical care.
"Those people who are injured have been blocked from getting critical medical and healthcare because the military junta has blocked the roads leading up to it, so people who want to help them can't even get there," she said.
Among those reportedly killed in the junta's air strike was Kachin singer Aurali Laphai, who visited Australia in 2017 and met many of the diaspora community here.
Ms Lagwi described him as a "legendary" musician and said many in Australia felt a great connection to him.
"He is famous for singing and promoting Kachin patriotism," she said.
Another Kachin community member, who asked to be named only as Chloe, said she was friends with Aurali and had known his wife since she was little. Aurali stayed at her place during his visit.
"I felt sick in my stomach as it simply shows how cowardly the Myanmar military is," she said.
Kachin state lies in Myanmar's north and borders China, and for decades the KIA has been fighting with the military – also called the Tatmadaw – for greater autonomy.
It's also the centre of the lucrative jade mining industry in Myanmar, which both the KIA and military used as a source of revenue.
Dr Tun-Aung Shwe, the Australia representative of the National Unity Government (a body of civilian MPs, ethnic armed leaders and protesters formed after the coup), said he had lived in Kachin state for a decade and had fond memories of previous celebrations similar to the one that came under army fire.
He described the attack as a "barbaric act".
"This celebration became a killing field," he said.
"It was a black Sunday for Kachin state."
Other community members, who asked not to be named because they still have family members living in the conflict-riddled country, described the attack as "evil".
"I was really, really shocked. I was crying," one Kachin community member from Victoria said.
She said Aurali's songs — about fighting for freedom from military rule — had touched the Kachin community in Australia, and that he had three young children.
"We are heartbroken," she said.
A community member in NSW said many grew up listening to his music, with lyrics about loving your people and encouraging the Kachin to appreciate their culture and land.
"His songs were very popular in every generation … he's a rock star, basically," he said.
"We are united in grief, but we will use our strength to carry on our struggle."
Calls for targeted sanctions against junta
Dr Shwe said this attack was just the latest in a long string of atrocities.
In response to the attack, Independent federal MP Zoe Daniel, a former ABC South-East Asia correspondent who reported on Myanmar in the past, took to Twitter to give notice of her intention to move a motion on the next sitting day in parliament.
That motion "calls on the government to immediately introduce targeted sanctions against the Myanmar junta to isolate it and its supporters from access to international funds and resources enabling it to maintain its military campaign of repression against its citizens".
The motion noted it has been almost two years since the coup, more than 1 million are refugees and more than 1 million more are internally displaced, and that the US, UK, EU, India and Canada "have imposed sanctions on more than 196 individuals and 172 business entities associated with the military junta".
"The junta is still able to access funds and other resources, including aviation fuel, international to support a campaign of terror against Myanmar's citizens," the text of the motion read.
Australia has imposed no new sanctions since the coup.
In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade told the ABC: "As [Foreign] Minister [Penny] Wong has previously made clear, sanctions against members of the Myanmar military regime remain under active consideration."
Dr Shwe welcomed Ms Daniel's initiative and urged other MPs to support it.
He called on the Australian government to brand the junta as "terrorists" and apply heavier pressure, adding that the army was using the ongoing detention of Australian citizen Sean Turnell in its "hostage diplomacy".
In a joint statement, the charge d'affaires from Australia and other Western ambassadors said that "indiscriminate attacks which include civilian victims continue to cause extraordinary harm and suffering across the country".
"This attack underscores the military regime's responsibility for crisis and instability in Myanmar and the region, and its disregard for its obligation to protect civilians and respect the principle and rules of international humanitarian law."
Chloe and other community member said they wanted to see more concrete action, not a silent policy.
"I would like to see the Australian government take real actions that will have an impact on Myanmar people rather than rhetoric, condemnation or issuing statements," she said.
In a statement, Amnesty International's deputy regional director Hana Young said: "We fear this attack is part of a pattern of unlawful aerial attacks by the military which has killed and injured civilians in areas controlled by armed groups".
"The military has shown ruthless disregard for civilian lives in its escalating campaign against opponents. It is difficult to believe the military did not know of a significant civilian presence at the site of this attack."
ABC/wires
