The abbot of a monastery in Kyauk Kwin village, Hpapun Township, Karen State, passed away following an unprovoked airstrike by the military council forces on the evening of March 5. According to local residents, the military aircraft conducted the bombing raid without any ongoing conflict in the area, also using machine guns to strafe the monastery compound. The Venerable Bhaddanta Wisudda was fatally wounded by bomb fragments during the aerial attack, while two other monks sustained serious injuries. The incident has been confirmed by multiple local sources who emphasized that there was no military engagement in the area at the time of the attack.
The funeral ceremony for Venerable Bhaddanta Wisudda was held on March 6, while the two injured monks have been transferred to Hpa-an for medical treatment due to the severity of their wounds. The monastery suffered extensive damage from the airstrike, with significant destruction to its buildings and properties. Local residents report that the monastery’s structures were severely damaged, and many items within the compound were destroyed. The attack has caused considerable distress among the local Buddhist community, who view this as a deliberate targeting of religious institutions.
Local residents have condemned this attack as a war crime against innocent civilians and religious figures, noting that such deliberate targeting of non-military sites without any active conflict constitutes a serious violation of international law. They argue that the military council’s strategy of targeting religious buildings appears to be aimed at demoralizing the population. However, they maintain that these actions will not weaken the people’s resolve to continue their struggle against military dictatorship. The community remains united in their determination to pursue the end of military rule, despite such brutal attacks on religious institutions and civilians.
