KATHA, Myanmar — A devastating airstrike by Myanmar’s sham government on a Buddhist monastery has left more than 50 people dead, including several monks and children, sparking fierce condemnation of the country’s high-ranking religious authorities for their perceived silence.
The attack occurred around 11:00 AM on March 20, 2026, during the traditional lunchtime for monks at the Maha Lay Htat Monastery in Katha, Sagaing Region. The monastery was serving as a shelter for approximately 100 internally displaced persons (IDPs) who were unable to flee further into the countryside.
Local monitoring group Voice of Wundwin issued a scathing statement on Saturday, highlighting the irony of “Buddhist pilots” acting under the orders of “Buddhist military leaders” to bomb a religious site during a sacred meal.
“It is utterly revolting that while our monks are being blown apart and their supporters killed, no official Sangha Nayaka (Monastic Council) has stepped forward to protest or prevent such atrocities,” the group stated. “Their silence while living in luxury is a betrayal of the faith.”
Initial reports from the ground suggest a staggering death toll. A native of Katha currently living away from the town told MPA that the scale of the massacre is consistent with the damage observed.
“The military knew exactly what they were hitting. The Maha Lay Htat compound is vast and clearly recognizable as a religious site,” the source said. The strike occurred on the same day the sham government launched its illegitimate regional parliamentary sessions across the country.
The lack of institutional protest has become a flashpoint in the conflict. While many lower-ranking monks have joined the anti-junta movement, the upper echelons of the Buddhist clergy have remained largely silent or, in some cases, supportive of the military.
“Many high-ranking monks try to cover for the military even when they target civilians or fellow monks, just to avoid friction with the generals,” Ashin Pyinna Deepa, a monk currently residing in Australia, told MPA.
The Katha massacre is the latest in a series of airstrikes targeting civilian infrastructure, including schools, hospitals, and places of worship. As the sham government loses ground in rural Sagaing, its reliance on airpower has increased, often with catastrophic results for non-combatants.
While rescue efforts are ongoing, local responders warn that the final death toll could rise as they continue to clear the debris from the collapsed monastic buildings. The National Unity Government (NUG) has vowed to document the incident as a war crime, but for the survivors in Katha, the immediate feeling is one of profound abandonment by both their government and their spiritual leaders.
