More than a dozen people were killed by bomb explosions at and around the Thingyan pavilions organized by the junta during the traditional Myanmar’s New Year Thingyan Festival under the military regime, according to information verified by Than Lwin Times.
Than Lwin Times compiled information on the explosions around the pavilions that occurred from the eve of Thingyan, April 13 to the last day of Thingyan, April 16, citing reports from local media outlets and statements by the military council.
Shan, Kayah, and Mon States and, Ayeyarwaddy, Bago, and Sagaing regions are among the areas impacted by the explosions near the Thingyan pavilions.
Four civilians were killed on the spot and 11 were injured when a bomb was detonated near the east central pavilion of the Yan Daing Aung Pagoda in Lashio, northern Shan State, on April 13, the eve of Thingyan.
On the same day, eight people, including five children, were killed and about 30 injured when a drone-carrying bomb was dropped on the pavilion of Kyweipon middle school in Sagaing in the evening, reported the military council.
The PDFs have yet to issue any statements regarding the two attacks, but the military regime has accused the PDFs of being responsible for the incidents.
In the year of the military takeover, junta forces began stationing in Kyweipon village, and the People’s Defense Forces often attacked the village; most of the dead and injured were members of the junta forces and the Pyu Saw Htee militia group.
In the early morning of the Thingyan A-tet nei (the last day), April 15, three military personnel were injured in a bomb blast in Ingapu Township, Ayewaddy Region, and the Ingapu-PDF carried out the attack.
Similarly, the pavilion of the state authorities in Loikaw, Karenni State was also bombed by a drone at around 10 am, injuring 28 people while 13 civilians were injured in a bomb attack in Ngwe Dwin village, Sagaing Region’s Ayadaw Township, reported the junta.
The Falcon Wings and PDF-Loikaw claimed responsibility for the attack on the Karen State authorities’ pavilion, and the groups said it was revenge for a series of massacres and war crimes committed by the junta army across the country, including the incidents in Moso, Pazigyi, Namneim, Anangpa, and Lat Yet Kone villages.
On April 15, at around 9:00 p.m., some members of the security forces suffered a bomb attack at the military council’s We Love Thonze pavilion in THonze, Thayarawaddy Township, in the western part of Bago Region, killing one and injuring four others.
The attack was carried out by the Tharyarwaddy Garuda Force, and when about 170 civilians were killed by the military council’s aerial bombardment in Pazigyi village, their group warned the entire population not to celebrate Thingyan without sympathy.
The Assistance Association of Political Prisoners (AAPP) reported on April 12 that 3,240 people and democracy activists who opposed the military coup led by General Min Aung Hlaing since February 1, 2021, were killed in more than two years of the Spring Revolution.
