Myanmar’s military recently attacked the Bangkok IDP Camp, on the border between Shan and Kayah States. Schools and several shelters in the camp have been hit over the past year, part of a deliberate strategy of violence to weaken resistance to the regime.
Newsroom (May 31, 2025, 12:25, Gaudium Press) In yet another brutal attack on civilians, Myanmar’s military junta bombed the Bangkok Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp on May 14, 2025—marking the third assault on the shelter in less than a year. The camp, home to hundreds of ethnic Karenni, most of them Catholic, has been repeatedly targeted despite its status as a civilian refuge.
A Repeated Atrocity
The latest bombing struck a school and multiple houses, though no casualties have yet been reported. This follows two previous attacks:
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September 5, 2024: Nine civilians killed.
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November 18, 2024: A 45-year-old woman died, while the camp’s church, parish priest’s residence, and homes were severely damaged.
The junta claims the camp harbours armed resistance fighters, but survivors and humanitarian groups insist it shelters only civilians—primarily women, children, and students fleeing conflict.
Priest Forced into Hiding
Fr. Paul Tan, a Karenni Catholic priest who provided spiritual care in the camp, was forced to relocate after the November attack due to direct threats. Junta-linked social media accounts have labeled him a “strategic target,” accusing him of bolstering morale among the Christian community.
“He still serves his people from a distance, but the military wants to break the spirit of the Karenni,” a local source told OSV News.
Systematic Repression in Kayah State
Since the 2021 coup, Kayah State—a predominantly Christian region—has endured extreme military repression:
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300+ air raids
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52 churches destroyed
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25 schools and 16 hospitals leveled
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500+ civilians killed
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200,000 displaced
Even after a devastating earthquake on March 28, 2025, the junta continued attacks, with local authorities accusing the military of deliberately blocking reconstruction and aid efforts.
International Condemnation, But No Action
Human rights organizations have repeatedly condemned the junta’s atrocities, yet global intervention remains minimal. With each bombing, more Karenni are displaced, their homes and sacred sites erased.
“The world cannot keep looking away,” said a Karenni activist. “This is not war—it is the extermination of a people.”
As Myanmar’s military escalates its campaign of terror, the displaced Catholics of Bangkok Camp—and thousands like them—remain in the crosshairs, their faith both a source of strength and a target for persecution.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from OSV and Asianews.it
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