Myanmar junta turns festivals into propaganda

In Myanmar’s Chin State, February usually brings colour, music and pride as communities gather for Chin National Day. This year, however, the celebrations were overshadowed by air strikes and fear.

On the eve of the holiday, military jets bombed mountain towns where resistance fighters have held ground since the 2021 coup. Among the casualties was a two‑year‑old child, leaving locals questioning how they could celebrate while mourning.

Despite the violence, senior military officials flew into Hakha, the state capital, to preside over the ceremony. Many residents stayed away, seeing the event as a propaganda exercise. “By associating themselves with Chin National Day, they are trying to attach themselves to something deeply important to the Chin people,” said Salai Za Uk Ling of the Chin Human Rights Organisation.

Observers note that the junta’s strategy mirrors its push for elections in the midst of civil war — an attempt to project authority and normalcy. Yet the reality on the ground tells another story. Since September, air strikes have intensified, with schools, churches and homes hit. Rights groups say at least 1,728 civilians have been killed in two years of aerial attacks.

The military is regaining territory in Chin State and Sagaing Division, eroding resistance strongholds. Human rights organisations warn that tactics such as “double‑tap” strikes — bombing the same site twice to target rescuers — may amount to war crimes.

International accountability remains slow, though Timor Leste has taken a notable step by opening a case against Myanmar’s generals under universal jurisdiction. Such moves, while symbolic, signal that impunity may not last forever.

For villagers in Chin State, however, the immediate concern is survival. “People are scared of bombing when they go to their bean fields, but we have to harvest, or else we will starve,” said one resident.

As the junta seeks to cloak its rule in pageantry, the contrast between staged ceremonies and the devastation of daily life could not be starker. The question now is whether international pressure will catch up with the reality faced by Myanmar’s people.

-2026-02-27