Bombs Fall on a Sacred Space: The Unholy Union of Violence and Faith in Myanmar's Civil War The recent air strike on a monastery in Sagaing region, killing 14 civilians, is another gruesome reminder of the unending bloodshed that has engulfed Myanmar since the military staged its coup in 2021.
This act of violence against a sacred space raises questions about the relationship between faith and conflict in this country, where spiritual and secular interests have long been intertwined.
The victims were mostly elderly, aged between 50 and 70, who had gathered at the monastery for a meditation retreat marking Buddhist Lent.