According to a statement from a representative of the Thaung Tha Township Public Movement Committee, buildings within a monastery compound in Magyi Pin Tae village, Thaung Tha Township, Mandalay Region, were damaged following an aerial bombardment by the military council’s forces. The attack occurred in the morning of March 18, when two helicopters from the Meiktila Air Base dropped eight bombs on the area. While the bombing resulted in damage to several structures within the monastery compound and destroyed one civilian house, fortunately, no casualties were reported in the incident.
The military council has been conducting daily aerial attacks with the apparent intention of terrorizing and intimidating local civilians. The Thaung Tha Township Public Movement Committee has issued warnings to local residents to immediately seek shelter in bomb bunkers upon hearing aircraft or helicopter sounds. The committee emphasized that the military council frequently targets civilian areas, schools, hospitals, and religious buildings, necessitating extreme vigilance from local residents. These systematic attacks have become a regular occurrence since the military seized power, with the council showing no regard for civilian infrastructure or religious sites.
Human rights observers note that such aerial attacks on religious buildings constitute violations of international humanitarian law and could be classified as war crimes. The military council has been systematically targeting civilian populations since the coup, including the deliberate destruction of religious buildings and civilian infrastructure. These actions have significantly impacted the security and psychological well-being of local communities, as reported by residents in the affected areas. The targeting of religious buildings, particularly monasteries which have traditionally been considered sanctuaries, demonstrates the military council’s disregard for both civilian safety and cultural heritage. Local residents continue to face daily challenges in maintaining their safety while the military council persists with these aggressive aerial campaigns against civilian targets.
