Myanmar military using festivals as propaganda to hide war zone
The Myanmar military junta has been accused of using cultural events such as Chin National Day as propaganda to create the appearance of stability while the country remains in a violent civil war. In Chin State, military leaders attended official celebrations in the state capital Hakha, but many local residents boycotted the event.
At the same time, air strikes by the military continued in nearby towns where resistance groups operate. Local people reported bombings just before the festival, including attacks that killed civilians and injured children.
Human rights groups say the junta is trying to use festivals and planned political events to project control and “normalize” the situation, even as fighting and air attacks across Myanmar intensify during the ongoing civil war that began after the 2021 Myanmar military coup.