Canada’s Foreign Minister officially announced on March 8 that the country has imposed additional sanctions on 13 Myanmar military council officials, including generals, ministers, and deputy ministers, along with three organizations. These sanctions were implemented in response to the military council’s continued oppression of Myanmar’s people and are intended to increase international pressure on the regime. The sanctions target key figures within the military administration who are directly involved in the implementation of policies that have led to human rights violations and the suppression of democratic freedoms.
In Papun Township, Karen State, the military council conducted an airstrike on a monastery in Kyauk Kwin village, resulting in the death of the resident abbot, Venerable Bhaddanta Wisudha. Local residents confirmed that there was no active fighting in the area when the airstrike occurred. This incident starkly contradicts the military council’s claims of protecting Buddhism in Myanmar, as they continue to attack religious sites and kill religious figures. The bombing of the monastery demonstrates the military council’s disregard for religious institutions and civilian safety, despite their public assertions of being guardians of Buddhism.
In Nyaung-U Township, Mandalay Region, two military council-appointed administrators, Htun Wai and Pyu Saw Htee Soe Lwin, were killed in an attack. Their deaths were reported to be immediate following the incident. This event highlights the continuing collapse of the military council’s administrative structure and the intensifying resistance from local communities. The military council faces significant challenges in maintaining township-level administration, indicating a weakening grip on their control systems. These incidents reflect the growing instability of the military council’s governance apparatus and the increasing effectiveness of resistance efforts against their administrative personnel.
