Military Council Bombs Buddhist Monasteries in Pinlaung Township
By Network Media Group
Saturday, April 8, 2024
The Pa-O National Liberation Army (PNLA) has reported that the Military Council is employing jet fighters and artillery to bombard religious buildings and people’s homes in the Pa-O Self-Administered Zone.
Earlier this month, a jet fighter targeted a Buddhist monastery in Pin Pon. The monks and residents of the town in Pinlaung Township had already fled for safety after the PNLA’s attack on the Burma army in mid-March.
The PNLA formally resumed conflict with the regime in January, following the termination of its ceasefire in southern Shan State.
On March 30, just a couple of days before the first airstrike, a jet fighter destroyed the Zawana Rama Buddhist Literature Teaching Centre in Hsihseng town. The building, which housed five hundred monks, was completely razed and collapsed as a result of the attack.
A resident of Pin Pon remarked, “They are intentionally attacking Buddhist monasteries in the Pa-O region because almost all Pa-O people are Buddhist. By targeting these sacred places, they aim to instill fear and discourage resistance. They also seek to sow division between the people and the revolutionary forces.”
A PNLA officer stated that such tactics would not succeed. “The Pa-O people are aware of the junta’s malicious intentions. Even though our people understand the situation, the military junta’s thugs are attempting to incite conflict in this area. We must remain vigilant and closely monitor the thug’s actions.”
