According to a statement from a representative of the Thaung Tha Township Public Movement Committee, buildings within a monastery compound in Magyi Pin Tae village, Thaung Tha Township, Mandalay Region, were damaged following an aerial bombardment by the military council’s forces using helicopter gunships. The attack occurred in the morning of March 18, when two helicopter gunships from the Meiktila Air Base dropped eight bombs, resulting in damage to several structures within the monastery compound and one civilian residence.
Local residents were able to take shelter in bomb shelters when they heard the aircraft approaching, preventing any civilian casualties. The military council has been systematically targeting civilian areas with daily air strikes, prompting the Thaung Tha Township Public Movement Committee to warn residents to immediately seek shelter in bomb bunkers upon hearing aircraft or helicopter sounds. The committee emphasized the importance of maintaining vigilance due to the increasing frequency of aerial attacks in the region.
Local residents report that the military council deliberately targets civilian infrastructure and religious buildings, destroying the lives and property of innocent civilians in what they describe as war crimes. The ongoing aerial attacks have created an atmosphere of fear and anxiety among local residents, severely disrupting their daily lives and normal activities. The military council’s continued targeting of civilian areas, including religious sites, represents a significant escalation in their campaign of violence against the civilian population, making it impossible for residents to maintain their regular daily routines.
