DAWEI — A military junta jet fighter bombed a Karen National Union (KNU) township office in the Mergui-Tavoy District, east of Dawei, on January 10, according to local sources.

The airstrike targeted the Ler Doh Soe Township office at approximately 1:40 PM. The attack resulted in the death of a two-year-old child and left at least nine others injured.

The strike occurred just one day before the second phase of the junta-sponsored election. Residents emphasized that there were no active clashes in the vicinity of the target at the time of the bombing.

“There hasn’t been any fighting in the eastern forest area since the skirmish near Thingantone village,” said a local woman from the East Dawei region.

A brief engagement had previously broken out between junta troops and revolutionary forces on January 5 in Thingantone village, situated along the strategic Dawei-Htee Khee road.

Following the airstrike, the military-led Election Commission proceeded with the second phase of its election on January 11.

Voting was restricted to specific areas within the Yebyu, Kyunsu, and Tanintharyi townships of the Tanintharyi Region.