October 7, 2022
The military council reportedly bombed Pariyatti Monastery in Mae Ka Thar village in Win Yay area, Kyainseikgyi Township, Doopalaryar District – the territory of Karen National Union (KNU) Brigade 6, burning down the monastery and injuring a monk.
U Thiri Nanda, the presiding monk of Pariyatti Monastery in Mae Ka Thar village, spoke about the situation of the monastery being bombed by the junta.
“Before the bombing, an aircraft started flying over the monastery. Since the situation looked bad, I and all the other novices and monks fled the monastery. But one elderly monk stayed in the monastery. Then the monastery was bombed at about 2 am on October 6.”
Regarding the state of the damage, the resident monk said the following.
“As for the damage, the monastery was burned down. We lost everything that was in the building. Everything from motorcycles to computers was destroyed. Everything was destroyed by the fire. There were no other casualties except for an elderly monk who had a slight bruise on his head. It was just a light wound.”
The military council’s airstrike forced villagers to flee to safety in the forests, while some fled to areas near the Thai-Myanmar border, Mae Ka Thar residents said.
Regarding the destruction of the monastery, which was built with millions of kyats, U Thiri Nanda further said the following.
“I have never interfered in politics. I am just going about my religious duties. So, they intentionally bombed the monastery with full intent. I am emotionally affected [by the junta’s action]. I can’t tell you how much it hurt me, but I feel a great loss. I built the entire monastery and spent millions of kyats on it. And now everything is worth nothing. This makes me very sad.”
Locals report that tensions between the two sides remain high after a combined force of the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) launched an attack on the military council’s camp in Phayataung in Hpayarthonesu sub-township and Kyainseikgyi Township on September 29.
The military council’s bombing of Pariyatti Monastery in Mae Ka Thar village came a week after the attack on the Phayataung camp.
Following the military coup, fighting broke out throughout the country between ethnic armed organizations (EAOs), People’s Defense Forces (PDFs), and military council troops.
During the armed conflict, junta forces used heavy artillery and air strikes that resulted in destruction and damage to homes, schools, and religious buildings, including churches and monasteries, as well as casualties throughout the country.
Sent from NMG