Due to a shooting incident, the Venerable Win Neinmitayon Monastery Sayadaw passed away. Three days later, on the evening of June 22, a charitable vehicle returning after transporting a patient in Myingyan town was attacked and fired multiple times. As a result, the Sakhama Village Monastery Sayadaw was killed, and a civilian traveling in the vehicle was injured.
The Sakhama Village Monastery Sayadaw personally drove the village’s charitable vehicle to transport a patient and was returning around 9:30 PM on June 22. Upon reaching the exit of Quarter 18 in Myingyan town, the vehicle was fired multiple times by the PDF Black Tiger group led by Maik Maik Khe from Kunsaik village. This incident widely circulated on social media, and according to locals, Eleven Media Group confirmed the accuracy of the event.
Venerable Sayadaw U Uttama, aged 50, with 12 years in the monkhood, was personally driving the charity ambulance to transport a patient to the hospital. On the way back, he was shot, with a bullet hitting his head, causing fatal injuries. A companion, U Aung Myo Thant, sustained minor injuries to his ankle and ear. However, the PDF Black Tiger group denied any involvement in the incident.
Since the military takeover in 2021, including the recent incident in Myingyan where a monk was killed, there have been numerous shootings and brutal killings resulting in the deaths of approximately 140 monks and one pastor.
During the conflicts and killings, over 100 monks and one pastor were killed. However, data indicates that other religious figures were not targeted. The percentage of monks who died is relatively small, with over 90% killed by the PDFs under various accusations.
Most of the killings of these monks were carried out by PDF groups and armed groups. Despite these killings and acts of violence against monks, no statements or expressions of condolence have been issued by international organizations, including the NUG, INGOs, NGOs, and armed groups. Additionally, religious organizations like the Ma-ha-na (the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee) have not made any comments or statements regarding the killings and violence against the monks.
Similarly, international media and exiled media have sparsely reported on the brutal killings of monks. However, since the shooting incident involving the death of Venerable Win Neinmitayon Monastery Sayadaw by security forces, extensive news coverage and statements of condolence have been made by many opposition groups.
Among the killings of monks, the oldest was a 93-year-old monk. According to Eleven Media Group's investigative reports, these brutal killings included monks being beheaded, burned, or shot while eating.
One such incident involved Venerable U Sumana of Mingalar Hman Monastery in Thedawlay Village, Inyin Village-tract, Wundwin Township, Mandalay Region. On November 11, 2021, at 11:15 AM, while he was eating with three other monks in the dining hall, a PDF member arrived on a motorcycle and shot him in the head, causing him to die on the spot.
Another incident involved the oldest monk killed, Venerable Bhaddanta Eindriya of Indu Village Monastery, Dedaye Township, Ayeyawady Region. At 93 years old, with 72 years in the monkhood, he was attacked with knives by terrorists on the morning of July 20, 2022, inside the monastery. He died from multiple stab wounds to his head and left cheek. During the same incident, U Maung Saw, a 62-year-old lay attendant at the monastery, also died from stab wounds.
Additionally, in October 2022, Venerable U Kawdanya, a resident monk at Thitsar Shwe Gu Monastery in Nyaung Ngoak Toe Village, Sagaing Township, was brutally killed by PDFs. The monk was shot and beheaded. While he was heading to the town of Sartaung to collect alms in the monastery's Hijet vehicle, he was attacked by 15 PDF members in front of the monastery. He was shot, beheaded, and his head was left on the road in front of the monastery.
Similarly, in January 2022, Venerable Bhaddanta Pandita, aged 55 with 22 years in monkhood, residing at Pangonthar Monastery in Pankon Thar Taik, U Shitgon Village, Kanbalu Township, Sagaing Region, was killed in a paddy field about two furlongs west of the monastery. He was hacked with a knife and burned, sustaining knife wounds on his upper body and burn injuries on his lower body.
Similarly, on September 4, 2022, Venerable U Gandama, a Shanni monk residing in Naungpat Village, Banmauk Township, was abducted by KIA and PDF members near Nantsa Village. He was then killed and buried. Following this incident, 28 Shanni civil organizations, including the Shanni Youth Network Organization (SYNO), the Shanni Sangha Association of Myanmar, the Shanni Literature and Culture Association (Banmauk Township), the Bhamo District Shanni Youth Association, the Hpakant Township Shanni Youth Network, and the Shanni National Unity Organization, condemned the actions of KIA and PDF groups.
On September 26, 2023, Venerable U Nyanika (aged 53, with 33 years in the monkhood) from Pintin Village Monastery, Indaw Township, was abducted by KIA and PDF members. On October 1, at 12 noon, his body was found near Pinnge Village, close to the Shwebo-Myitkyina highway, with two stab wounds to his abdomen.
Similarly, on September 24, 2023, Venerable U Wei Ponla (aged 37, with 17 years in the monkhood) from Minkyine Village Monastery, Htantapin Township, Bago Region, was abducted by six members of the KNU and PDF. He was taken to the road between Minkyine and Kyeintaw ditch, west of the village, and shot dead. He sustained a bullet wound to his forehead, a bullet wound to his neck, and a bullet wound to his left shoulder, leading to his death.
Additionally, on the night of September 17, 2023, Venerable U Kumara (aged 73, with 53 years in the monkhood) from Kaing Magyi Village, Yezagyo Township, was abducted by PDF members who arrived from Htanpin Chaung Village while he was residing at the monastery. He was taken and killed near a rest house about two furlongs southeast of the village, resulting in his death from a severe neck wound and injuries to his lips.
Furthermore, on July 10, 2023, at 10:30 AM, Venerable U Thuzata (also known as U Thein Zaw, aged 60, with 25 years in the monkhood), residing at the Sint Oh Hla Monastery in Sint Oh Hla Village, Kyauktaga Township, was shot by KNU and PDF members who came to the monastery. He succumbed to a bullet that pierced through his left neck and exited through his right cheek, along with multiple abdominal lacerations.
On March 25, 2024, around 1 PM, Venerable U Sandhima (with 18 years in the monkhood), who was residing alone at the Kyauk Phyu Taung Monastery (Bawgawadi Shwe Monastery) near Kinmon Chaung Village, was attacked by two PDF members who arrived while he was getting on his motorcycle after having tea at the Sindaw tea shop in Kinmon Chaung Village. He was shot and killed on the spot.
Similarly, on February 6, 2023, around 3 PM, near Hnankye Village on the Dawei-Ye road in Yephyu Township, a vehicle from the Buddha Sasana Rakhita Monastery in Yarpu New Village, Yephyu Township, was shot at, resulting in the death of the abbot and a woman, with six others injured. Regarding this incident, the Yephyu Township People's Defense Force (YPPDF) issued a formal apology on their Facebook page on February 9, 2023.
On the night of November 22, 2022 also, on the Myeik-Dawei road within Pulaw Township, two monks, three nuns, seven men, and four women from the Thabawa Dhamma Yeiktha in Thanlyin Township, Yangon Region, traveling in two Hi Ace vehicles, were shot at near the intersection of Kade Village by PDF members with small arms. One monk was killed, and three others were injured in this incident.
Among those killed were also two senior nuns. On January 30, 2022, at the North Zawtikayon Monastery in Watkyone Village, Myingyan Township, Magway Region, Daw Nanda Siri (also known as Daw Htwe Kyi, aged 57, with 15 years in the nunhood) was alone in her annex next to the monastery when PDF members arrived and shot her, resulting in her death from a gunshot wound to the forehead.
Similarly, in Launglon Township, Taninthayi Region, in September 2023, Daw Nandasari, aged 64, and six other individuals were detained and subsequently killed by PDF groups on accusations of being informants.
Following the conflicts that began in late February 2021, a notable incident involving the death of a religious leader occurred in September 2021 in Htantalan Town, Chin State, during clashes between opposing forces. Pastor Cung Biak Hum of the Htantalan Centennial Christian Church was killed by gunfire. Both the State Administration Council (SAC) and opposition groups issued conflicting statements regarding the incident involving Pastor Cung Biak Hum's death.
According to the SAC, attacks by PDF groups have resulted in the deaths of 140 monks and two nuns, with 96 others injured. This was mentioned in a briefing on June 21 in relation to the shooting incident involving the Win Neinmitayon Monastery Sayadaw in Bago Venerable Baddanta Muninda Bhivamsa. Since February 1, 2021, the conflicts have reportedly caused the deaths of over 10,000 civilians, including around 140 monks.
