Vile, 46 Soldiers Killed: Myanmar Military Regime Fires Church, Kills Civilians

Illustration of myanmar's military. (Wikimedia Commons/KMK from Myanmar)

JAKARTA - Four people were killed and eight others seriously injured when Myanmar military regime forces bombed a Catholic church near the Capital of Kayah State, Loikaw on Monday morning.

The Tatmadaw, a term for Myanmar's military, fired artillery shells into a church in Kayan Tharyar village around 1 a.m., shortly after its troops were ambushed on a nearby street by local resistance fighters.

"People fleeing shooting are being chased by Myanmar soldiers who fire weapons and hide in nearby caves," a local resident said, referring to Myanmar Now on Tuesday, May 25.

The ambush occurred as soldiers traveled from the Kayah State capital, Loikaw, to reinforce troop numbers in Moebye, southern Shan State.

Civilians who became fighters from the Karenni People's Defense Forces (KPDF) said they killed at least 20 members of regime forces in Moebye on Sunday and 26 others outside the town near Demoso.

In addition, the KPDF also captured four soldiers of Myanmar's military regime. Their members attacked reinforcements from Loikaw with weapons, delaying their journey to Moebye so that it was not timely.

"The army then entered the village and began shooting. People became scared and ran to the church to hide," the resident said.

Rescue workers on Monday were unable to send eight people injured in the shooting to a hospital in Loikaw, as there was still fighting along the six-mile road.

Tragically, the bodies of four civilians who were killed when regime forces opened fire on the church, were taken by Myanmar military regime soldiers and taken to their bases.

"We have learned that they have just left a body near their battalion near Loikaw. No one dares to take them when the army shoots anything that moves," explained a KPDF member as quoted by The Irrawaddy.

To exacerbate the situation, the regime has imposed different curfews in the region in different areas, making it impossible for rescue teams to get out.

As of Monday afternoon, no serious fighting had been reported in the state, with only gunshots from some regime forces heard. Residential areas have become deserted as many people have fled to nearby forests for safety. Only PDF members remain.

Eyewitnesses said the regime cargo plane made two landings at Loikaw Airport on Monday morning, bringing reinforcements to Kayah State.

A spokesman for the military council could not be reached by local media for comment on the church shooting.

Myanmar Coup. The VOI editorial team continues to monitor the political situation in that one of the ASEAN member countries. Casualties from civilians continue to fall. Readers can follow the news covering the Myanmar military coup by clicking this link.