Myanmar Spring Chronicle – Scenes from April 14
(MoeMaKa), April 15, 2026
Civilian deaths continue from airstrikes as the conflict deepens
During Myanmar’s traditional New Year Thingyan period, reports continue to emerge of civilians being injured and killed due to airstrikes. On April 13, the eve of Thingyan, airstrikes by the military that seized power reportedly hit a monastery in Seik Hkun village west of Shwebo Township, as well as Tan Zin and Ponnagyun villages. According to reports, two novice monks were killed and eight others were injured.
Reports also indicate that in the villages targeted by these airstrikes, there had been no active fighting, nor were there any PDF armed groups present. In recent days, aerial attacks involving aircraft, paramotors, and other airborne means have been reported in Shwebo, Ayadaw, and Salingyi townships.
In Salingyi Township, an attack by a gyrocopter from the Northwestern Regional Military Command on Weikwe village reportedly killed an infant after being struck by gunfire. Similarly, during clashes near Leingnaut village in southern Yinmabin Township, a military gyrocopter attack reportedly killed a 14-year-old girl.
In the predominantly Buddhist central dry zone of Sagaing Region, even during the Thingyan period, local residents have been forced to flee fighting and military columns while facing aerial attacks. As a result, they are unable to carry out traditional religious practices such as visiting monasteries and pagodas or observing Sabbath days.
In recent days, a parliamentary session was convened in Naypyidaw, where a president and vice presidents were selected and a government formed in an apparent effort to gain political legitimacy. While major cities are holding Thingyan festivities with pavilions and celebrations, ongoing conflict and airstrikes continue to cause civilian casualties and destruction of homes in many townships across Sagaing Region, as well as in Pakokku and Myingyan in Mandalay Region, Hpakant in Kachin State, and Bilin and Myawaddy in Karen State.
On Thingyan eve, nearly 200 homes in North Lukan village, about five miles from Pakokku’s airfield, were burned to the ground. The village had been occupied by military forces, and residents had already fled when the destruction occurred. The following morning, a video spread on social media showing a man returning to the burned village, carrying a scorched metal box salvaged from his home and weeping over the total loss. His words—pleading for help and lamenting that nothing remained—have come to symbolize the suffering of hundreds of thousands of civilians across thousands of villages in the central region. Watching the footage of him crying, saying, “North Lukan, once a place you never wanted to leave, is now nothing but ashes,” evokes deep sorrow and anguish.
Although the burning of villages in the central region is not new, the incident highlights that such destruction is still ongoing. Over the past five years, more than 120,000 homes nationwide have been destroyed by fire, most of them reportedly by the military. These acts are often justified under claims that villages supported resistance forces—either by hosting them or providing supplies—or are carried out as part of a broader “scorched earth” strategy to deny any base of support.
These acts—amounting to war crimes and crimes against humanity—cause deep emotional pain and resentment among those who hear about them. However, it is important to note that assuming such suffering will automatically translate into greater success for resistance forces is not necessarily a sound political conclusion.
The increasing brutality of the military does not make resolving the conflict easier. It also raises the question of whether the armed conflict will end in total victory for one side or through efforts toward resolution.
While the military regime has shown no hesitation in targeting civilian lives, property, and livelihoods to defeat its opponents, resistance forces must also strengthen unity, develop shared political objectives, and establish effective strategies for success. It is crucial for these forces to reassess their strategies, efforts, and cohesion, and to avoid the mistaken belief that the enemy’s brutality alone will automatically mobilize public support.