A 76-year-old monk has passed away following an airstrike by the military council forces on Shwe Sa Yan Monastery in Gway Kone village, Salin Township, Magway Region. The incident occurred around 10 AM on March 24, when the military conducted an aerial attack that also injured two civilians. The elderly monk succumbed to his injuries while being transported for medical treatment. According to a representative from the Salin Township People’s Administration Team, the military council forces have been targeting monasteries and schools under the pretext of resistance forces taking shelter in these locations.
Similarly, in Nwar Htoe Gyi Township, Mandalay Region, the military council conducted an airstrike on Kwun Tun village monastery at approximately 4:15 PM on March 24. The attack, carried out using fighter jets, resulted in significant damage to monastery buildings, though no civilian casualties were reported in this incident. The military’s aerial assault included both bomb drops and machine gun fire, causing extensive destruction to the monastery’s structures.
In another incident, the military council launched an unprovoked attack on Nay Thut village in Pauk Township, Magway Region, at around 12:45 PM on March 24. Two fighter jets conducted the assault using incendiary bombs, despite there being no active conflict in the area. The attack resulted in injuries to two civilians and the complete destruction of one house. Nay Thut village, situated between Myaing and Pauk townships, had no history of previous military engagements.
A representative from the Anyar Mai Civil Society Organization-Myaing reported that local residents are living in fear due to these military airstrikes, with many being forced to flee their homes as internally displaced persons. The situation has become particularly dire during nighttime hours, as the military often conducts aerial attacks after dark, compelling some residents to abandon their homes at night for safety. The systematic targeting of monasteries has reached such a concerning level that even Buddhist monks have been forced to evacuate their monasteries, seeking refuge elsewhere to ensure their safety.
