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 new sanctions are 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 Myanmar.
In Papun Township, Karen State, the military council conducted an airstrike on a monastery in Kyauk Kwin village despite there being no active fighting in the area. The resident monk, Venerable Bhaddanta Wisudda, was killed in the bombing, according to local residents. This incident starkly contradicts the military council’s frequent claims of protecting Buddhism in Myanmar. While the regime consistently portrays itself as a defender of Buddhist faith, their actions demonstrate a pattern of attacking religious institutions and members of the sangha, as evidenced by this tragic event. The bombing of the monastery occurred without any military provocation or conflict in the vicinity, highlighting the indiscriminate nature of the military’s attacks on civilian and religious targets.
In Nyaung-U Township, Mandalay Region, two military council-appointed administrators, Htun Wai and Pyu Saw Htee Soe Lwin, were reportedly killed in an attack. Both individuals died immediately at the scene. This incident reflects the continuing collapse of the military council’s administrative structure and demonstrates the intensifying resistance against the military dictatorship by local populations. The event underscores the military council’s lack of legitimate authority and their failing grip on local administration, as they face increasing opposition from the public who reject their illegitimate rule. The military council continues to operate against the will of the people, with their administrative system showing clear signs of deterioration and loss of control across various regions of the country.
