An airstrike by Myanmar’s military on a Buddhist monastery in the country’s central Sagaing Region killed at least 14 people and wounded 20 others on 21 August, according to an opposition organization and a local resident. The victims were taking part in a weeklong meditation retreat during the rains retreat period.
The attack took place in Swel Le Oh Village in Myaung Township, approximately 75 kilometers west of Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city. A spokesperson for the Civil Defense and Security Organization of Myaung Township (CDSOM), Nway Oo, told the Associated Press that a military fighter jet dropped a bomb on the monastery compound, killing 14 people, including three women.
A local resident, who spoke anonymously because of concerns for his safety, confirmed the death toll. He told the Associated Press that two bombs were dropped approximately 15 minutes apart. The second reportedly damaged a house near the monastery where more than 100 people were participating in the meditation retreat. The resident said that his mother-in-law was among those killed and that survivors left for a nearby community after cremating the bodies of the victims. (Associated Press)
BBC Burmese and independent Myanmar media, including Myanmar Now, reported between 10 and 14 deaths following the attack and published images and video purportedly showing victims and damage at the site.
Myanmar’s military did not immediately comment on the incident. The military authorities have previously maintained that their air operations target armed resistance groups, which they describe as terrorist organizations, and not civilians. Myanmar’s foreign ministry has similarly said that airstrikes are limited to military targets and are conducted according to rules of engagement, with security forces exercising restraint to minimize civilian casualties.
The strike comes amid growing international concern over the military’s reliance on aerial attacks during Myanmar’s continuing civil conflict. On 11 August, the United Nations-established Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM) reported evidence of an escalation in attacks on civilian areas. The mechanism said that its investigations had documented aerial attacks on homes, schools, medical facilities, religious buildings, and camps for internally displaced people.
“The military’s increasing reliance on paramotors and drones has made attacks harder for civilians to detect, limiting their ability to flee or seek shelter,” the IIMM said in announcing its annual report. (Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar)
The IIMM said that aerial attacks increased in the lead-up to elections completed in January and have continued since then. Its investigations have also examined alleged atrocities committed by armed groups opposed to military rule.
Myanmar has experienced widespread armed conflict since the military overthrew the elected government of State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021. After security forces used lethal force against demonstrations opposing the coup, armed resistance groups emerged across much of the country. Sagaing Region has become one of the strongest centers of resistance, including activity by local People’s Defense Forces. These groups possess little effective defense against military aircraft.
The monastery attack is particularly significant in Myanmar, where Buddhism remains closely intertwined with social and cultural life. According to Pew Research Center estimates for 2020, approximately 47.2 million people in Myanmar, or 89.1 per cent of the population, are Buddhist, giving the country the third-largest Buddhist population in the world after Thailand and China.
The victims in Swel Le Oh were attending their retreat during the traditional Buddhist rains period, a time when monastics generally remain in residence and lay Buddhists often devote additional time to meditation, ethical observance, and religious practice.
See more
Myanmar military strike kills 14 people at a Buddhist monastery, opposition group says (Associated Press)
Myanmar military bombing kills 14 at Buddhist monastery, opposition reports (Al Jazeera)
Myanmar Mechanism investigations reveal deliberate attacks on civilians by the Myanmar military – Annual Report (Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar)
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