The Karen National Union (KNU) Doo Tha Htoo District has reported that a military airstrike on a monastery in Min Saw Village, Bilin Township, Mon State, resulted in the immediate deaths of one novice monk and two female donors during an alms-giving ceremony. The attack occurred at approximately 11:09 AM on April 19, when the military deployed a fighter jet to drop a 500-pound bomb that directly hit the monastery’s dining hall where monks were having their morning meal. The bomb struck precisely where the Buddhist monks were gathering for their daily meal offering.
The casualties from the airstrike included two female donors – Naw Hla Myint (65 years old) and Naw Ma Wae (60 years old) – along with novice monk Shin Kelatha (10 years old), who were killed instantly when the bomb exploded. Additionally, several others were injured in the attack, including Naw Mu Koh (26), Saw Maung Shwe (70), Saw Gaw Toh (62), Naw Ma Moe (27), Saw Maung Nu (28), Saw Kyaw Keh (44), Venerable U Uttara (5 years in monkhood), Venerable U Ketti (2 years in monkhood), and senior novice Shin Manita (1 year in monkhood).
The bombing caused extensive damage to the monastery’s dining hall, dharma hall, and dormitory buildings. According to the KNU Doo Tha Htoo District’s statement, this military attack was deliberately targeted at civilians, monks, and novices during their morning alms ceremony, despite there being no active fighting in the area. Local residents have pointed out that targeting religious buildings and members of the Buddhist clergy constitutes a war crime. The attack demonstrates a concerning pattern of the military’s willingness to target civilian and religious sites, even during peaceful religious ceremonies.
