April 2026: Monthly Overview of the Human Rights Situation in Mon State, Karen State and the Tanintharyi Region

Over the last month, the Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM) documented an alarming rise in airstrikes across targeted areas of Mon State, Karen State, and the Taintharyi Region. On 1 April, between 12:10 PM and 12:17 PM, junta jet fighters dropped four 300-pound bombs on Lay Kay Village. The attack damaged 12 civilian houses and forced residents to flee in fear. The attacks continued the following day. On 2 April at around 10:58 pm, despite no active fighting in the area, the Junta targeted a monastery in Lay Kay Village, part of Myit Kyo Village Tract. Two 300-pound bombs were dropped from a jet fighter. One bomb exploded inside the monastery compound, while another struck within the village, leaving the entire monastery severely damaged.

At the same time, near a military base outside Win Ta Pan Village in Win Ta Pan Village Tract, the regime dropped two additional bombs from a jet fighter. The explosions occurred in areas where villagers usually work, increasing fear among local communities.

Later that night, between 11:39 PM and midnight on 2 April, the Junta escalated its attacks. A Y-12 aircraft carried out six aerial bombardments, while 32 rounds of 120 mm artillery were fired into Lay Kay Village and surrounding areas in Myit Kyo Village Tract. These attacks caused further destruction, damaging at least three more homes.

Local communities reported that there had been no clashes in the targeted areas during the time of the attacks, raising serious concerns about the deliberate targeting of civilian areas. The KNU stated that since the attempted coup in 2021, the junta has continued to carry out widespread and repeated airstrikes across the country. These attacks have increasingly targeted civilians, homes, monasteries, churches, schools, hospitals, and other public and religious buildings.

An airstrike on Lay Kay village, Bilin Township, Thaton District in Mon State, also injured one male resident and damaged 12 homes, according to local sources. Residents said there was no fighting in the area at the time of the attack. The bombing took place at around 12:15 AM on 1 April, when a junta jet fighter dropped four bombs on Lay Kay village, including at least one 500-pound bomb.

“Around midnight, they bombed the village from the air even though there was no clash. One man was injured, and 12 houses were damaged. Five of the homes were badly destroyed,” a local resident told HURFOM.

Download the full report (English)