Nearly 500 houses and a monastery were burned down by the military council’s deliberate attacks in Hsi Hseng in Pa-O Self-Administered Zone in southern Shan State.
The military council carried out attacks with jet fighters, helicopters, drones and artillery shells in the battles in Hsi Hseng, which have started since the last week of January, locals said.
Nearly 500 houses and Zawanayarma monastery were burned down in the shootings, a local man said.
“The monastery is a glory not only for Hsi Hseng but also for our entire ethnic. This is a real missionary school that is teaching Priyatti (Buddhist literature) to more than 500 monks. The military council deliberately attacked and destroyed these great monasteries in order to sow discord between the revolutionary forces and the public.
According to the current damage list, the collection of lists was carried out in places with greater safety due to the situations on the ground, and the extent of damage may be greater than those in the current list, Pa-O residents said.
Military council and Pa-O National Army (PNA) supporters have propagated the news that the revolutionary forces committed the shootings.
Regarding this propagation, the Pa-O National Liberation Army’s (PNLA) military spokesperson said: “This is an attempt to paper over the cracks. Because the whole country and the world have known who is attacking and destroying religious building.”
The PNLA’s military spokesperson added that the revolutionary forces have no weapons that can destroy homes and big buildings, 500-lb bombs and planes. Both the world and the public have already known that only the military council has these weapons. The junta’s attempt to blame the revolutionary forces after committing such destructive acts is to paper over the cracks.”
At present, the joint force of the military council and the PNA is conducting offensives almost every day in order to regain control of Hsi Hseng. Two-thirds of town area have been burned to ashes due to the armed clashes, airstrikes and shelling.
On 30 March, the military council’s heavy shell destroyed a bridge between Naung Wow village and Hsawngpyaung village on Pinlaung-Loikaw road in Pinlaung Township in Pa-O Self-Administered Zone, locals said.
Sent by NMG.