Junta’s airstrike kills three civilians and wounds five in Bawlakhe

Narinjara News, March 28

Three civilians were killed and five wounded by the junta’s airstrike on a timber production site in Wanbala village in Bawlakhe Township of Karen State at around 1 pm on 26 March, according to the Bawlakhe People’s Defense Force (BPDF).

A member of the BPDF said: “We release this statement according to the ground information. We have evidence and records. Airstrike destroyed vehicles at the timber production site, killing three and wounding five. One of five wounded persons is in a serious condition.”

This is the military council’s intentional airstrike at a time when there is no battle on the ground. This village has not experienced such an airstrike before, he added.

Villagers have fled to safer places as they fear that the military council may bombard the village and conduct ground military operations.

On 16 March, tension mounted following the clash between the PDFs and the military council troops near Yenipauk village in Bawlakhe Township.

In the clash, the military council fired heavy shells into Yenipauk and Monghtan villages. Artillery shelling destroyed more than 20 houses and a monastery, according to locals.