Junta’s Armed Force Day recalls grievances for Dhammasa’s residents

March 31, 2025

HURFOM: Dhammasa village, Kyikemayaw Township, Mon State is located on the border separating Karen and Mon states and is surrounded by a green forest. The village is situated beside the Gyaing River and has big wood and brick houses. The village has a good economy and villagers celebrate the “Ta Saung Tie Festival” – a famous religious festival every year.

Dhammasa village had more than 1,000 houses but on March 7th, 2024, military junta torched many of the homes. That day of fire and destruction coincided with the 79^th Armed Force Day.

The wanton destruction of the village by junta forces, was linked to the loss of the Kaw Bane Police Station to revolutionary forces. In retaliation, the junta launched a series of reckless attacks on Dhammasa village. The junta’s navy ship targeted the village with artillery attacks while military aircraft dropped bombs. The entire village burnt down to ash.

Over the course of the two-day artillery attacks, 362 houses were destroyed and burnt down to ash and more than 1,500 residents became fire victims. Nearly 6,000 residents of the Gyaing River community had to flee their homes immediately.

Today, March 27^th, 2025 is the 80^th anniversary of the Armed Force Day of the junta and the 1^st anniversary of the day that the junta torched the entire Dhammasa village.

Just prior to this year’s Armed Forces Day, the military junta has reinforced their troop presence in Dhammasa village and set up artillery weapons in the village monastery. Navy ships have been patrolling the Gyaing River. The junta also launched an indiscriminate artillery attack on a nearby village where they assume the members of the revolutionary forces are housed.

In the evening of March 26th, 2025, villagers heard the sounds of artillery attacks and were reminded of the junta’s 2024 attacks.

“When this day (March 27^th) comes, we’re worried about what will happen to us. The soldiers are stationed in the village. The number is even greater. We don’t know if they will attack us with artillery and bombs,” said a Dhammasa resident.

There have been no armed clashes between revolutionary forces and the junta along the Gyaing River area for nearly a year; however, junta troops have stationed themselves in nearby villages and launch indiscriminate artillery attacks on residential areas, as well as preventing displaced villagers from returning home.

Since the third week of March, 2025, the junta’s navy ship in the Gyaing River has been launching indiscriminate artillery attacks, and residents must be careful with their movements.

“There are artillery attacks again. Armed Force Day is about to come. I returned to my village days ago and found the junta had set up artillery weapons in the village monastery,” said a Dhammasa villager.

The destruction of Dhammasa has occurred more than once. The military junta burnt the village to ash 30 years ago. After that incident some villagers fled to Thailand for work, while some worked their farmland. Eventually residents re-established their village community.

However, since the destruction of the village in 2024, no one knows when Dhammasa or if it will be rebuilt, due to the worsening political and economic situation in Burma.

Observers note that although villages can be rebuilt, the memory of grievances and doom will likely awaken every Armed Force Day and it will never be erased.

Written by Modinator · Filed Under Feature, News