The military council conducted an unprovoked aerial attack on a monastery in Kyauk Kwin village, Hpapun Township, Karen State, on the evening of March 5, resulting in the death of the resident abbot, Venerable Bhaddanta Visudha, according to local residents. Two other monks were injured in the airstrike, and the monastery buildings sustained significant damage.
Local sources reported that the military council’s air attack came suddenly without any ongoing conflict in the area, and included machine gun fire. The two monks who were injured in the attack sustained severe injuries and are currently receiving medical treatment in Hpa-an city. The funeral ceremony for Venerable Bhaddanta Visudha was completed on March 6.
This targeted attack on a monastery without any military engagement demonstrates another instance of the military council’s violence, showing that they do not spare even religious buildings and members of the Buddhist clergy. The Kyauk Kwin village monastery served as a religious center for local residents, and Venerable Bhaddanta Visudha was a highly respected figure in the community.
