Toxic Tactics: Gaining Power Through Misinformation

By Ko Yay Chan

WHEN it comes to the piece of news that has been continuously and repeatedly shared every day on various social media platforms from 12 May to date, it would undoubtedly be the widely known incident that took place on 12 May in Ohtainkwin Village, Dabayin Township, Sagaing Region. Everyone who understands that the news was managed to spread not only locally but also internationally, even reaching the UN stage without considering whether it was true or false, but with the powerful influence of journalism skills.

News release

The malicious media outlets intentionally spread false information, claiming that the security forces launched an airstrike on a school in Ohtainkwin Village, resulting in the death of about 50 students, including two teachers. According to the regional security officer, such news was invalid, and security forces conducted proper security measures to protect the lives and prosperity, and did not conduct an airstrike targeting non-military places. Currently, terrorists intentionally launch actions deteriorating the State’s stability, roads, towns and villages, murder and kidnap civilians, ask for money, recruit, illegally trade the natural resources, and also commit drug cases and violence. When people come to know their doings, they can distinguish between the good guys and bad guys, and what is right and what is wrong. Regarding this case, the people can consider whether it is right or wrong with the shreds of evidence.

Difficult to find the truth

On the other hand, it is clear now that the truth and false have become distinct because of the official domestic media – those who love and value the nation and Tatmadaw, and who prioritize the country’s interests, write and broadcast news truthfully and promptly respond to the misinformation. This time, malicious media and terrorists cannot stand it, and they attempted to change the right ones into wrong ones and the wrong ones into the right ones. An organization conducted a field study to collect data from different points of view, whether the case is right or wrong. However, locals are in the same regions where terrorists are residing, and so it is difficult to find the truth.

However, it seems that terrorist groups and their allies are hastily fabricating stories and false news with the intent to blame security forces, without clear evidence. They fail to realize that the so-called “evidence” they present is vague. In the classrooms where the bomb exploded, there were no desks, chairs, or damage on the wall, but the ceilings were broken into pieces and the roofs were turned up, and the cupboard, wallpaper and flower vases were in normal condition, and there were no stains on the bags of the students. Therefore, such evidence showed that it was not a bombing attack but the explosion of homemade mines.

Homemade mine explosion

 Based on the information and photo evidence obtained from residents, there is no indication that security forces carried out an airstrike. If it had indeed been a bombing from above, the school building and all the school facilities would have been destroyed into pieces by pieces. Similarly, when people are hit by a bomb, it is not easy to recover with an intact body. In reality, terrorists had been making handmade mines at that school, and due to the extreme heat on that day, it appears that those mines caused a chain reaction. As a result, 22 young students and two female teachers who had arrived at the school tragically lost their lives. According to photos spreading online, a video file featuring terrorists making homemade mines at that school was spreading on social media in advance. In that video, terrorists cut out PCP pipes to make a homemade mine. They create the homemade mines using the daily-use materials that can be easily found. It was malicious media that called for mine risk awareness under the campaign “Let’s protect from the dangers of mines” and also warned that homemade mines can explode due to remote control, timed detonation or physical contact.

Covering their sins

If we examine the situation more broadly and thoroughly, it will become even clearer and more understandable. In this case, the security forces did not conduct an airstrike, and the explosion of homemade bombs caused the deaths of innocent children. Terrorists and their supporters colluded with malicious media outlets to cover up their actions and defame security forces.

The plot calling for international assistance regarding the incident is obvious. In reality, handmade bomb explosions aren’t unusual in the field of terrorism. Many terrorists have lost their lives due to such explosions. This time, however, it tragically involved children as well. Terrorist groups, especially, establish terrorist camps at schools in countryside areas and commit destructive actions frequently.

They commit terrorist attacks, taking cover in schools. When security forces launch counterattacks against terrorists who reside in schools, they will release news that security forces murder the innocent children brutally without any reason. Now, the explosion caused by the homemade bomb they created is being twisted by terrorists and their allies to falsely blame security forces and portray themselves as victims.

Schools and violence

On 13 January, security forces cleared PDF terrorists who established camps to commit destructive actions in the primary school in Marathein Village, Sagaing Region. Terrorists covered the school with sandbags, planted the mines and created the training ground in the school compound. Security forces seized the bolt-action, percussion lock firearm, homemade guns, grenades, iron mines, guns for practice sessions, gunsmithing lathe, TNT gunpowder, explosive materials, iron pipes and guerrilla garments.

Educational staff and buildings constructed by the government are an investment to create a better future for the country, as well as for students and young people. However, NUG and their subordinate PDF terrorists, who emerged with the aim of revolution, changed the schools into their camps, and such evidence can be seen. They use the schools as their terrorist camps and have destroyed the education sector. They committed 123 arson attacks on schools, 449 threats to educational staff and murdered 77 teachers from 1 January 2021 to the end of April 2025.

All people know that the government prioritizes promoting the education level of new generations and students. Terrorists launched attacks using heavy weapons, bomb drops and drones in the villages where residents do not support them, and they also abducted the villagers and killed them frequently. Terrorists imposed fear among the villagers using their weapons and persuaded them.

In the current situation, terrorist groups are using rural civilians to spread false and harmful news. Their goal is to cover up their own violent and inhumane actions. They also want to mislead the public concerning Tatmadaw and security forces. These terrorist groups aim to gain a political advantage, while anti-government media outlets try to create profits from the situation. All of these actions are part of a deliberate plan to manipulate public opinion.

Translated.

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