YANGON (UCAN): On November 9, only days after Pope Francis called for an end to conflict and the pursuit of dialogue in Myanmar, an air strike by the ruling military junta destroyed a church and a school in southeastern Karen state, according to a statement from the Karen National Union
There were no civilian casualties reported as a result of the attack.
The Karen Human Rights Group [KHRG] said that two fighter jets dropped two bombs on Ta Baw Koh Der village, Hpapun township at around 1.00am destroying a church, a primary school and a house. All villagers immediately fled to the forest and were not able to take anything with them.
“No humanitarian organisation has been able to access the displacement site. Villagers are in need of emergency support such as rice, food and medicine,” the rights group said.
Local sources said it was a deliberate attack against civilians by the military as there was no fighting in the region.
The junta has stepped up its offensive against militia groups in several regions by using air strikes after ground troops sustained casualties.
Dozens of churches, convents and clinics have been attacked and badly damaged since the military seized power on 1 February 2021 [Sunday Examiner, 7 Febraury 2021].
No humanitarian organisation has been able to access the displacement site. Villagers are in need of emergency support such as rice, food and medicine
At least 92 religious or sacred sites across the country including the predominantly Christian regions of Kachin, Kayah and Chin states were destroyed or damaged between February 2021 and May 2022, according to an October 28 report by the International Commission of Jurists citing news sources.
Myanmar’s bishops have continuously called for all parties to refrain from attacking places of worship, schools and hospitals and to respect life.
The Karen community has faced air strikes and heavy shelling by the military leading to an increasing number of civilians seeking refuge in jungles and church facilities as well as taking shelter in neighbouring Thailand.
Karen communities around the world have called for sanctions against Myanmese companies involved in the supply of aviation fuel to the military and to stop international companies from being involved in any aspect of the supply of aviation fuel and equipment.
Karen state has seen more than 60 years of conflict between the military and the Karen National Union, which has left over 100,000 refugees, mostly ethnic Karen, in camps along the Thai border.
The Karen, also known as Kayin, account for about five million of Myanmar’s 54 million people and are the third largest ethnic group after the Bamar and Shan. The majority of Karen are Theravada Buddhists while around 15 per cent are Christians.
