Another civilian killed as Myanmar junta continues airstrikes on resistance-held oilfields

One man was killed and another injured after a village monastery in Magway Region’s Myaing Township was hit by junta airstrikes early Tuesday morning, according to resistance sources.The attack occurred shortly before 10am, when three bombs were dropped on the monastery in Sin Sein, a village located about 13 miles west of the town of Myaing, near the Kyauk Khwet oilfield and the border with Pauk Township.“Two individuals were injured; one died while undergoing medical treatment,” said Bobo Thant Zin, spokesperson for the Anyar Land Defence Force, an anti-junta group operating in Myaing and Pauk townships.The airstrikes also did extensive damage to the monastery, causing walls to collapse and roofing sheets to be blown off. The doors of a school building in the monastery compound were also destroyed, sources said.The attack came just one day after junta airstrikes on seven villages straddling the border between Myaing and Pauk townships left at least 15 people dead and more than 20 injured.Sources in the area confirmed that the death toll had risen since the attacks, which targeted the area around the resistance-held Letpanto oilfield, were originally reported by Myanmar Now on Monday.Later the same day, a man in his 50s was killed when regime forces shelled the village of Nyaung Win Pauk, located about three miles east of the town of Pauk. Three others were injured, one critically, according to a local National Unity Government (NUG) official.Another attack that took place near the Kyauk Khwet oilfield last week left dozens of people attending the wedding of a local resistance fighter dead or injured. Some of the damage from a junta aerial attack that killed at least 12 people at a wedding in Sonkone, a village in Magway Region’s Myaing Township, on February 25 (Photo: Supplied) The regime has been stepping up its attacks on the oil-rich region along the Myaing-Pauk border since late February, when it announced that it would crack down on the extraction of natural resources in areas under the control of anti-junta forces.According to Pauk Township’s NUG-led Humanitarian and Disaster Management Department, the regime’s airstrikes, artillery fire, and drone attacks killed at least 17 people in the township last month alone.Resistance forces have controlled the Kyauk Khwet oilfield in Myaing Township since late 2023, and in April of last year they captured the Letpanto field in Pauk Township after forcing junta troops stationed there to withdraw.While the regime no longer has access to these areas, its efforts to prevent resistance forces from exploiting resources within their territory appear to be working.“Most people have fled areas near the oilfields. Only a few rice farmers have stayed. The oilfields are no longer operating as they used to,” said Ko Cross, a member of Myaing Township’s civilian administration.As the airstrikes look set to continue, local people have been urged to dig bomb shelters.“We have issued notices at all levels, including zones, districts, and villages, instructing residents to dig bomb shelters,” said Ko Cross, adding that those who fail to comply will be fined.Other measures include the temporary closure of Starlink-connected internet cafes and more stringent rules about holding public gatherings, such as weddings and donation ceremonies.“Previously, we granted approvals immediately after notification. Back then, airstrike threats were not as severe. Now, due to increased airstrike risks, we require approvals from respective zone and district authorities before allowing events,” said Ko Cross.

Another civilian killed as Myanmar junta continues airstrikes on resistance-held oilfields

Dozens have died since last week as the regime steps up its efforts to crack down on the extraction of resources in areas under the control of its opponents

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