Photo:Khaw Poe Pleh New Generations
Mizzima
The junta destroyed schools, religious structures and other buildings when it launched three airstrikes on the Karen National Union’s Brigade 1-controlled Minsaw Village in Bilin Township, Mon State on 23 March.
The three airstrikes happened between 10:20 pm and 11:00 pm on 23 March. Three middle schools, two religious structures, 11 civilian residences, and a sesame oil factory were damaged in the attack. A 56-year-old villager also sustained minor injuries.
Major Saw Kyaw Myint, the Chairman of the KNU’s Allied Supervisory Committee, said to Mizzima: “It [the airstrikes] occurred late at night. I’ve heard reports of schools and neighboring houses being obliterated. With the military council’s diminishing control, they’re resorting to targeting innocent civilians and even resorting to the destruction of civilian settlements to instill fear among the populace.”
According to a KNU source just prior to the airstrikes a junta jet had been flying over the village carrying out reconnaissance. They said the junta had purposefully launched airstrikes on a civilian settlement in an area where there was no fighting, with the express intention of harming innocent civilians.
Following the airstrikes, the residents of Minsaw Village are now terrified and fleeing their homes en masse, according to Major Saw Kyaw Myint.
Already in March, about 18,400 people have fled from 30 villages in the KNU-controlled Moo (Mone) Township following junta attacks.
