The military regime carried out at least 26 airstrikes on civilian targets over the four-day Thingyan or New Year’s festival. Across seven of the country’s 15 regions, they killed at least 23 people including children and novices, and injured some 50 others, according to the data compiled by The Irrawaddy.
The airstrikes targeted at least six monasteries where Buddhists traditionally gather throughout the festival.
Airstrikes were reported in 20 townships in Magwe, Sagaing, Mandalay, and Bago regions and Rakine, Chin, and Karen States from April 13 to 16, even though there had been no fighting on the ground.
On Tuesday afternoon, a YAK-30 fighter jet bombed a monastery at Kanni Village near Kyondoe in Karen State’s Kawkareik Township, said the Mon Liberation Army that is active in the area.
Four children and two adults died and 17 others including 10 novices and monks were injured.
A regime warplane again bombed Kanni village and nearby Thayet Taw village on Tursday, killing a villager and injuring two children.
On Wednesday, a Y12 junta plane dropped bombs on Myauk Kanma Yite village in the same township, killing a 37-year-old pregnant woman and four others including two children, the MLA said.
In Sagaing Region’s Kani Township, the regime used drones, paramotors, and a Y12 airplane to drop bombs on seven villages on Sunday. Its attack on the Thamin Chan village monastery killed two novices and two villagers.
In Mandalay Region’s Natogyi Township, a junta fighter jet on Monday afternoon bombed a monastery at Kyun Dauk village, burning down buildings, according to the Natogyi Journal that monitors junta attacks.
A 54-year-old monk, a seven-year-old novice, and a villager were hurt.
Since the March 28 earthquake, the civilian National Unity Government (NUG) and some powerful ethnic armed organizations have declared unilateral ceasefires to allow for rescue operations and funerals to proceed safely.
Some days later, the junta also announced a 20-day quake truce starting from April 2 but instead continued airstrikes and artillery attacks on both civilians and resistance targets across the country.
The NUG’s Human Rights Ministry said the regime conducted 92 shelling attacks and airstrikes across 12 of Myanmar’s 15 regions and states between March 28 and April 8, killing 72 people and injuring 91.
