The junta forces are conducting airstrikes and firing artillery shells every
day on Ahlel Pha Yone Kar island under Pauktaw township of Rakhine State
even though the area is so peaceful.
The military bases in Sittwe and the navy vessels are
targeting villages like Taung Oo Maw, Kyauk Pyin and Taung Chaung in the
island. They also conducted airstrikes with jet fighters, said local residents.
On 14 May at around 5 pm, Taung Oo Maw village
monastery and a nun’s building were destroyed by the airstrikes.
"At around 5 pm, a jet fighter bombed our
village and destroyed the religious buildings. They dropped two bombs and also
conducted artillery shelling,” said a villager.
The junta forces have been firing artillery shells
over the village almost daily in the last few days.
On 11 May, three artillery shells fired from the
junta's naval base in Sittwe exploded near Taung Chaung village.
The island is not witnessing any conflict and many
displaced residents from Pauktaw town are taking shelter in the villages
of the island.
Now the relentless artillery shelling has compelled
those displaced individuals to shift once again in search of safer places.