The military council conducted an unprovoked airstrike on a monastery in Tharyar Pu village, Salingyi Township, Sagaing Region, resulting in the death of one civilian and injuries to five others, including a Buddhist monk. The incident occurred around 5:20 PM on March 27, when a military aircraft deliberately targeted the monastery without any ongoing conflict in the area. According to local residents, the military aircraft flew along the river and deliberately attacked the monastery during its return flight.
The deceased victim was identified as a woman, while the injured included a Buddhist monk and several children, according to local sources. Local residents emphasized that this deliberate targeting of a civilian monastery in an area with no active conflict constitutes a war crime by the military council. The exact ages and detailed information about the injured victims have not yet been confirmed. This attack has caused significant distress among the local population, particularly given the targeting of religious infrastructure.
Human rights observers note that the military council’s targeting of civilian areas, especially religious buildings, appears to be a deliberate strategy to instill fear among local populations and violates international law. While the Salingyi region has been a site of frequent clashes between the military council forces and People’s Defense Forces, it has been confirmed that no fighting was taking place at the time of this attack. The military council’s continued targeting of civilian infrastructure, particularly religious sites, has drawn widespread condemnation from both local communities and international observers, who view these actions as part of a broader pattern of civilian persecution.
