The Karen National Union (KNU) Duplaya District has reported that five civilians, including three primary school children, were killed when the military council conducted an airstrike on a home-based school in Paing Hap village, Kyun Daw Township, Karen State. The attack occurred on June 9 at 1:45 PM when military council aircraft based in Naypyidaw launched an aerial bombardment on Paing Hap village. The KNU confirmed that the military council used internationally prohibited cluster bombs in this aerial attack.
The bombing resulted in the deaths of two girls aged 6 and 8 years, one 7-year-old child, a 40-year-old female teacher, and a 65-year-old man. Additionally, 22 people were injured, including 18 students. The attack also destroyed 10 houses and one monastery. The deceased and injured children were Grade 1 and Grade 2 primary school students. The military council’s deliberate targeting of civilians and non-military targets demonstrates their continued use of violence against their own people.
The KNU stated that the terrorist military council deliberately targets civilians as enemies, systematically attacking non-military targets such as religious buildings, public hospitals, schools, and civilian residential areas. This statement emphasized that such attacks targeting innocent civilians and children constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity, requiring intervention from the international community. The use of cluster munitions, which are banned by international conventions, further demonstrates the military council’s disregard for international humanitarian law and civilian safety.
