Kyaukme Township residents in northern Shan State told DVB that airstrikes injured an unknown number of civilians, and destroyed at least seven homes, in a residential area on Saturday. This is the third airstrike on civilians documented by residents over the last week.
“Six bombs hit three different locations, including a monastery and a school,” a Kyaukme resident told DVB on the condition of anonymity. Two bombs struck the school, a monastery, and a residential area of Painekon village, according to residents.
Kyaukme is located 68 miles (109 km) southwest of the regional capital Lashio and 107 miles (172 km) east of Mandalay. It came under Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) control on Aug. 5.
One civilian has been killed and five were injured by airstrikes in Kyaukme July 8-13. This has destroyed more than a dozen homes, including a school and a monastery. Kyaukme residents accuse the regime of targeting civilians, which is considered a war crime under international law.
At least 15 civilians have been killed and 50 have been injured in at least 10 airstrikes carried out by the Myanmar Air Force on Mogok, Nawnghkio, Kyaukme and Hsipaw townships, according to the TNLA as the four towns are under its administration.
The TNLA spokesperson Lway Yay Oo told the media at a press conference on July 5 that Beijing met with officials from the regime in Naypyidaw and the TNLA on separate locations to call for an end to fighting.
She added that TNLA and the regime will meet again in China next month following the failure to reach an agreement during the first two rounds of talks in February and April.
The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) has documented that a total of 6,934 people, including those who opposed the 2021 military coup, have been killed since Feb. 1, 2021.
