Type of Incident

Air strike [on a school compound.]

Date of Incident(s)

May 11th 2025

Incident Location

(Village, Township and District)

Aa--- village, Pyin Yay village tract[2], Hsaw Htee Township, Kler Lwee Htoo District.

Victim Information

Name

Ko[3] A---

Age

39 years old

Gender

Man

Ethnicity

Bamar[4]

Marital Status  

Married

Occupation

Farmer

Religion

Buddhist

Position

Villager

Village

Aa--- village, Pyin Yay village tract, Hsaw Htee Township, Kler Lwee Htoo District.

Perpetrator Information (Armed Actors)

Type of Aircraft

Unit

Base

Commander’s Name

Fighter jet

Burma [State Administration Council (SAC)[5]] Air Force

Toungoo air base, in Taw Oo District.

[General Htun Aung serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the Burma Army[6] Air Force]

1. Explain in detail how this information was collected.

On May 26th 2025, a KHRG field researcher heard [about the air strike incident] from a Karen National Union (KNU)[7] officer with authority [in Kler Lwee Htoo District]. The researcher then contacted a local authority [from Aa--- village, Pyin Yay village tract] who confirmed the incident. A few days later, the researcher went to the village and conducted an interview with [the wife of] the injured villager. [The victim was also present during the interview].

2. Explain how the source verified this information.

The information was given by a village authority [village head of Aa--- village] and a regional [KNU] authority. The researcher met with the victim in person to document the air strike incident [and interviewed his wife for detailed information]. [Moreover, the researcher also took pictures of the damage and the scar of Ko A---]. Thus, this information has been verified.

Describe the Incident(s) in complete detail.

On May 11th 2025, at 7:20 am, an SAC [State Administration Council]’s fighter jet flew over [conducted air reconnaissance above] Aa--- village, Pyin Yay village tract, three times. [Villagers believe that the aircraft came from Toungoo Town]. The third time, it dropped a 500-pound bomb, which landed and exploded behind Aa--- high school [inside the school’s compound] in Aa--- village. [The high school is run by the Karen Education and Culture Department (KECD)[8]]. [In addition to damaging the school building,] the bomb’s shrapnel went through the window of the house of Ko A---, a 39-year-old villager [who lived near the school’s compound], and hit him on his waist and the back of his shoulders, causing minor injuries. [The house was also slightly damaged].

On that day, Ko A--- and [his wife] Ma[9] B--- were inside their house, located close to the high school. [In an interview with KHRG,] Ma B--- explained: “Ko A--- was sleeping inside the kitchen and I was fetching water up and down after I had finished cooking. When the aircraft came, I was aware that the sounds of the aircraft were different from before [when it was just passing by]. The sounds were not as loud as other aircraft. The sounds were similar to conducting air reconnaissance over the village. I told Ko A--- to come downstairs [of the stilted house], because I did not feel that safe. The sounds that the aircraft made were like conducting air reconnaissance over our village. When I was speaking, he was still sleeping. As soon as I finished speaking, the aircraft came closer to the ground. When he [Ko A---] came down, it was too late for him. He got hit. He was in the kitchen. But for me, I was not injured. Because when I heard the sounds [of the aircraft], I rushed [to take cover] under the house. He rushed to come down too, but it was too late for him.” He was not injured severely, thus he recovered rapidly. He was treated [by a health worker from the Karen Department of Health and Welfare (KDHW)[10]] in a PDF [People’s Defence Force[11]] medical clinic located in the village. He did not have to pay for the treatment.

In addition, the air strike also damaged the high school building [walls and roof] and five villagers’ houses. The damaged houses are owned by villagers named U[12] C---, U D---, U E---, Daw[13] F---, and U G---.

Ma B--- explained that, prior to the incident, PDF [soldiers] had taken shelter in that high school for a short period of time. When the PDF [soldiers] were staying in the school [in the past], another air strike happened. [The first air strike happened approximately one month prior to the incident on May 11th 2025.] However, PDF [soldiers] were not staying in the school when the second air strike happened. Villagers said that air strikes occur when armed resistance groups [PDF] are in the village. However, the second air strike happened when the PDF [soldiers] were not in the village.

Ma B--- also expressed that, after the air strike incident, she feels scared. She does not dare to stay inside the house for long. She mostly stays under the house. She shakes uncontrollably when she hears the sound of an aircraft. She does not run if the aircraft just passes over the village. She and her husband [sometimes] go and stay in the forest, somewhere [they consider] safe, when they feel unsafe living in the village. 

Now, Ko A--- has recovered from his injuries, but it seems he is traumatised. He is frightened [of aircraft] all the time. All villagers have been afraid throughout this year. The village has already been attacked twice by aircraft. It is the rainy season, and, unlike in the summer, it is not easy to run away from the village. [Therefore,] villagers face difficulties.

Did the victim(s) provide permission to use this information? Explain how that permission was provided.

A KHRG field researcher interviewed the wife of the victims who was injured by the air strike, and the victim himself allowed this information to be documented [and published]. [Ma B---, the wife, also gave permission to KHRG to use this information as needed].