The military council has announced a 7-day extension of the temporary ceasefire period from April 23 to April 30. While claiming this extension is to assist earthquake victims, the council threatened to retaliate if attacked. However, during the first ceasefire period from April 2 to April 22, military attacks including airstrikes and artillery fire resulted in the deaths of over 160 civilians. This demonstrates that the military continued its offensive operations despite declaring a ceasefire.
During the ceasefire period, the military’s attacks targeted multiple locations including San Bo (New Village), Kant Ba Lu Township’s Sin Taw Village, Taungthar Township’s Nan Tun Village, Salingyi Township’s Let Kya Village, Yay Htut Village, Bilin Township’s Min Saw Village Monastery, Myinmu Township’s Kan Taw Village, Yakaing Township’s Nga Yay Village, Kyauktaw Town, Nyaunglebin Township’s Yay Twin Kone Village, Wetlet Township, and Kawkareik Township’s Tha Lway Htaung Village. These attacks killed innocent civilians including children and Buddhist monks.
The most devastating attacks included a 300-pound bomb strike on Let Kya Village in Salingyi Township killing 13 people, two 200-pound bombs on Yay Htut Village killing 24 people, and airstrikes on Nam Kham Village in Wuntho Township killing 26 people. In Mindat Township, 6 people were killed including two children aged 8 months and 7 years, while in Papun Township’s Nayka Village, two children aged 3 months and 12 years were killed in the attacks. These incidents clearly show that the military continued to target civilian areas with heavy weapons and airstrikes during what was supposed to be a ceasefire period, resulting in significant civilian casualties including young children.
