{"id":84797,"date":"2024-12-09T08:56:54","date_gmt":"2024-12-09T13:56:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.freeburmarangers.org\/?p=84797"},"modified":"2024-12-11T22:38:46","modified_gmt":"2024-12-12T03:38:46","slug":"three-churches-bombed-by-burma-army-and-12-killed-including-nine-children-in-northern-burma","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.freeburmarangers.org\/my\/2024\/12\/09\/three-churches-bombed-by-burma-army-and-12-killed-including-nine-children-in-northern-burma\/","title":{"rendered":"Three Churches\u00a0Bombed by Burma Army and 12 Killed Including Nine Children in Northern Burma"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Three Churches Bombed by Burma Army and 12 Killed Including Nine Children in Northern Burma<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Northern Burma<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

9 December 2024<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Warning: Graphic Content Below<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Destruction at the Kutkai Church.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Burma Army has a well-established record of targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure, such as schools, clinics and churches, with both air and ground attacks. Recently, in one three-week period, Burma Army air attacks destroyed three churches and killed and wounded multiple civilians, including seven children, in northern Shan State and Kachin State.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Locations of each of the church bombings.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

On 27 October, at 2145 hrs, the Burma Army dropped bombs at Hsenwi (Sinli) Kachin Baptist Church in northern Shan State, which was reportedly damaged as preparations were being made to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the church’s founding in December.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Hsenwi Church after being bombed by the Burma Army.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

On 15 November at 1550 hrs, a jet coming from Tada Oo dropped two bombs at Kunglaw Church in Momauk Township of Kachin State, where around 20 families were sheltering after having already been displaced by the Burma Army\u2019s attacks. Nine civilians, including seven children, were killed and 11 others were wounded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to bystanders, the children were playing outside when they heard the jet coming. They thought they would be safer inside and fled to the church building. The church was directly hit by one of the bombs. One family was killed \u2013 both parents and four children \u2013 along with three other children. The victims were rushed to Laiza Public Hospital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Aftermath of the Kunglaw Church bombing.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Mourning the nine people killed in the Kunglaw Church bombing.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Just three days later, on 18 November at 0147 hrs, the Burma military bombed a Chinese Christian Church at Kutkai Village, Kutkai Township, in northern Shan State. The bomb hit next to three buildings of the church compound, killing a woman and two children and injuring twelve others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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One of the children killed in the Kutkai Church bombing.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Rubble where the Kutkai Church used to be.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Information for this report was relayed by the FBR Kachin team from sources in the Kachin Independence Army and local church members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Thank you and God bless,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Free Burma Rangers<\/p>\n