Resistance forces carried out drone attacks on two Thingyan water festival pandals (stages) in Loikaw Town in Karenni State on the morning of 15 April.
The two attacked pandals were at the central security checkpoint of the Regional Military Command’s headquarters in Loikaw and at the State Government Office.
Loikaw People’s Defence Force (PDF) and Falcon Wings claimed responsibility for the attack.
According to reports by the junta-aligned Myanmar Radio and Television (MRTV) 28 people were injured in the attacks and they are being treated at Loikaw Hospital.
According to Loikaw PDF the attacks injured some junta members and state officials, though they were unable to confirm casualty numbers.
A source close to the attack said to Mizzima:“ The personal assistant officer of the regional chief minister, State General Administration Officer, U Kyaw Kyaw Ohn, and seven other civil service personnel were amongst the wounded. U Ohn Kyaw is in a critical condition. All of the injured were taken to Nay Pyi Taw by helicopter for medical treatment.”
Following the attacks on the pandals, at about 10:30 a.m. on 15 April, the junta fired artillery into the eastern area of Loikaw Town. A shell hit a temporary shelter, injuring a 12-year-old child and a 40-year-old man. Neither has life-threatening injuries.
Junta helicopters also bombed the eastern side of Loikaw Town on 16 April at around 2:00 a.m. Currently there are no details of injuries or damage caused in the attack.
Loikaw PDF released a statement saying that its attack was carried out in revenge for the junta’s attacks on civilians throughout the country, including the massacres by the junta in Moso, Pazigyk, Nan Naing, Anang Pa and Let Yet Kone.
Over the Thingyan celebrations, other junta-organised pandals were attacked.
These included a mine attack on the junta-organised “We Love Thonze’' Thingyan pandal in Thoneze Township, Tharyarwaddy District, Bago Region at about 8:50 p.m. on 15 April.
The attack was carried out by the Tharyarwaddy Galone Force. According to a statement by the group, four policemen who were guarding the pandal were hit by shrapnel from the explosion. One died and the other three were seriously injured.
