Brutal Airstrike by Junta Forces on Mon State Monastery Leaves Trail of Death and Destruction

April 19, 2025

At approximately 11:00 AM on April 19, 2025, junta forces launched a targeted airstrike on a Buddhist monastery in Minn Saw village, Bilin Township, Thaton District, Mon State. The attack, carried out by jet aircraft, struck the monastery during the peaceful midday meal (Pindapata), killing three people and seriously injuring at least eight others, according to local sources.

Tragically, 10-year-old novice monk Ashin Kaylasa was killed on the spot, along with two female laypeople—65-year-old Naw Hla Myint and 60-year-old Naw Ma Wae—who had been preparing food for the monks. Villagers described the scene as horrific, noting that the bombs struck without warning during a sacred daily ritual.

“It happened around 11:11 AM while the monks and community members were preparing the midday offering,” said a villager in his 40s. “The two women were hit by bomb shrapnel and died instantly. One senior novice and a younger novice were also badly injured. The whole village was thrown into panic. Everyone fled immediately, not knowing if more attacks were coming. Only a few men stayed behind to protect the homes.”

The bombing also caused severe structural damage to the monastery, leaving much of the building in ruins. Residents believe the weapons used were 500-pound bombs, though this has yet to be confirmed by military experts. The force of the explosion was so powerful that the bodies of the deceased women were reportedly torn apart.

In addition to the three killed, eight others were seriously wounded, including monks Ashin Oaktara and Ashin Kateti, novice monk Ashin Marnita, and local villagers: 26-year-old Naw Mu Koh, 70-year-old Saw Maung Shwe, 62-year-old Saw Gwa To, 27-year-old Naw Ma Moe, 28-year-old Saw Maung Nu, and 44-year-old Saw Kyaw Kah. One of the injured novice monks remains in critical condition, with his survival uncertain.

“They’ve bombed our Minn Saw village repeatedly, but this time was the worst,” said Saw Nwe, a local villager. “It’s been almost two school years that our children have been too afraid to attend school. We’re living in constant fear.”

Minn Saw is a Karen ethnic village located in territory administered by the Karen National Union (KNU), Brigade No. 1. The community has faced repeated military aggression since the junta seized power over four years ago. This latest attack underscores the junta’s ongoing pattern of targeting civilian areas—including places of worship—with indiscriminate airstrikes, leaving communities devastated and forcing mass displacement.

Written by HURFOM · Filed Under News