The KNU (Karen National Union) Central has reported that a monastery in Kha Ywe village, Kyaikto Township, Mon State, was attacked by the military council forces with heavy artillery, resulting in the death of one monk, injuries to two others, and significant damage to the monastery buildings. The incident occurred on March 21, 2024, at approximately 9:30 AM when military council forces stationed in Let Pet village, Waw Township, launched an artillery strike on the monastery located in the northern part of Kha Ywe village, Kyaikto Township, under the administration of KNU’s Doo Tha Htoo District in Kawthoolei territory.
According to the report, the artillery shell hit the monastery’s roof and exploded, causing immediate casualties. One monk was killed instantly, while two other monks sustained injuries from artillery shell fragments. The monastery buildings suffered extensive damage from the attack. The KNU Central has strongly condemned this attack on religious premises, describing it as an abhorrent act by the military council. The targeting of religious buildings and structures has become increasingly frequent, with the military council using both airstrikes and artillery attacks against religious institutions.
The military council has been repeatedly targeting religious buildings, including monasteries, teaching facilities, and other religious structures through aerial bombardment and artillery strikes. This incident is considered a direct assault on religious institutions and could be classified as a war crime, according to local residents and religious organizations. The brutal actions of the military council have raised growing concerns about the safety of local civilians and the preservation of religious institutions in the area. The continued targeting of religious buildings by the military council has created an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty among local communities, while also threatening the stability and continuation of religious practices in the region.
