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Myanmar Military Airstrike on Anti-Junta Activists Kills 16, Including Monks
A Myanmar military airstrike on an anti-junta meeting in Sagaing killed 16 people, including two monks, and wounded 22 others.
Myanmar National Flag Png (Unsplash)
A Myanmar military airstrike on a gathering of anti-junta activists inside a monastery in central Myanmar has resulted in the deaths of 16 people, including two monks, with 22 others wounded, witnesses informed Radio Free Asia (RFA).
The deadly assault occurred in Let Pan Tan village, marking the latest incident in Sagaing's central region, which has been engulfed in violence since the military seized power in 2021, prompting resistance from the predominantly Burman community. Activists, now armed against military rule, have aligned with ethnic minority insurgent groups in remote borderlands, forming militias known as People’s Defense Forces.
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According to witnesses close to the People’s Defense Force, the military likely received advance notice of the meeting, leading to the targeted airstrike on Saturday. "The bombardment was carried out while the people were in the meeting due to leaked information. How would they know from so far away?" one source questioned, speaking anonymously for security reasons. “So it’s clear we should consider that there are spies and informers in the village or near the village, who are secretly collecting information about us.”
RFA's attempts to contact People’s Defense Force groups in the area were unsuccessful, while Sagaing’s junta spokesperson, Nyunt Win Aung, did not respond to calls for comment.
Despite setbacks in various parts of the country, the military retains formidable air power capabilities, deploying jets swiftly to unleash devastating attacks, which anti-junta forces are ill-equipped to counter. While possessing some drones, the opposition lacks adequate anti-aircraft systems.
The airstrike in Let Pan Tan follows a similarly deadly incident on June 3, when a junta airstrike on a wedding in Sagaing’s Mingin township claimed the lives of 33 individuals and injured 64 others. RFA has yet to verify whether civilians were among those killed in Let Pan Tan, where multiple structures, including a second monastery, sustained damage, as reported by witnesses.
Residents recounted that nine people died immediately during the meeting, with an additional seven succumbing to their injuries later. "The bodies were badly damaged and disfigured," another witness described, highlighting severe injuries sustained by survivors. “There are quite a lot of people who got severely hurt and had their arms or legs severed (in the blast). There isn’t enough medicine for everyone.”
Following the airstrike, junta troops reportedly conducted a sweep operation in Let Pan Tan village, arresting approximately 10 individuals, including women, early on Sunday. RFA could not independently verify these claims.
Data compiled by RFA shows that from January to May 2024, junta attacks across Myanmar have resulted in the deaths of 662 civilians and injuries to 1,492 others.
