Myanmar Spring Chronicle – Scenes from April 12
(MoeMaKa), April 13, 2026
The lives of civilians displaced by war during the Thingyan festival
During Thingyan, the longest public holiday of the year in Myanmar, people in towns and villages free from fighting are able to celebrate the festival, visit monasteries and pagodas for religious observance, keep precepts, or attend meditation retreats. However, for people in many conflict-affected areas, they are forced to flee their homes and are unable to enjoy the opportunity to rest, practice their religion, or reunite with family during this time. Instead, they struggle daily to survive—facing shortages of food and trying to escape both violence and hunger, as reported in the news.
In recent days, alongside reports of clashes in Mon State’s Bilin Township and the border areas of Karen State—where joint forces of the KNU/KNLA are attacking military bases—there have also been reports that the military has carried out airstrikes on numerous villages in Bilin Township. As a result, more than 13,000 civilians have fled their homes and are now hiding in जंगलs and mountainous areas.
Although it is not clearly stated in reports whether the displacement of over ten thousand villagers is directly linked to attacks on military bases such as Lay Kay and Wintarpan in Bilin Township, it is likely that the airstrikes on nearby villages are retaliatory responses to those attacks.
Since the 2021 military coup, renewed offensives and resistance fighting have intensified, leaving local populations to suffer loss of life, homes, and livelihoods amid escalating conflict.
Over the nearly 80-year-long civil war, there were periods when military operations were not constant throughout the year. Fighting often paused during the rainy season, with most offensives occurring in the dry season from November and December through May. However, since 2021, the conflict has intensified without seasonal pause—fighting now continues year-round, whether in the rainy or dry season. Even during significant religious periods—such as Christmas for Christians, full moon days and Thingyan for Buddhists—many parts of the country continue to experience airstrikes and ground battles, forcing civilians to flee.
Unlike some conflicts elsewhere in the world, where temporary ceasefires are observed during important religious holidays, such pauses are rarely seen in Myanmar. Armed groups on all sides continue operations day and night throughout the year, aiming to gain military advantage by capturing enemy positions or conducting airstrikes.
Myanmar is a predominantly Buddhist country, but it is also home to Christians, Muslims, Hindus, and followers of various traditional beliefs. With such religious diversity comes a wide range of cultures and traditions, making peaceful coexistence among different ethnic and religious communities especially important.
In Christian-majority areas, people are similarly displaced during Christmas, while in some Muslim communities, people cannot remain in their homes even during Ramadan. Many are forced to live in displacement camps for years.
While armed groups continue fighting regardless of the time or season in pursuit of military advantage, it is certain that civilians—who only have these important religious occasions once a year—simply wish to spend them in peace and happiness with their families, relatives, and communities.
Write to Maung May