By Nway / MPA
The Myanmar military junta bombed a village shortly after it hosted a ceremony marking the 25th Silver Jubilee of Kayan National Day, injuring a husband and wife.
The airstrike occurred at around 11:45 p.m. on Thursday in Thi Kyit village, Phekhon Township, southern Shan State. A 200-pound bomb was dropped near a house beside the football field where the ceremony had taken place earlier that day.
“They bombed last night. A husband and wife were injured, and their house was destroyed,” an attendee told MPA on Friday morning.
According to the witness, the ceremony had concluded earlier that day and was attended by nearly 10,000 people. “If the bomb had hit during the event, the casualties could have been unimaginable,” he said.
“It seems deliberate—they likely knew the ceremony was happening.”
The Kayan Literature and Culture Central Committee (KLCC) reported that the commemorative event began with five cultural patrons striking the Kayan ceremonial bronze drum 25 times and blowing buffalo horn trumpets. A minute of silence was observed for Khun Francis, the former KLCC chairman assassinated on August 11, 2022, and for victims of the March 28 earthquake.
The ceremony also included the raising of the Kayan national flag, the singing of the national anthem, and traditional dance performances.
