Arson attack destroys over 100 homes and ancient heritage sites in Magway Region’s ‘Little Bagan’

A Myanmar military column of over 200 troops has torched more than 100 homes and an unconfirmed number of historic religious structures in Pakhannge village—locally known as “Little Bagan”—in Magway Region’s Chauk Township.

The arson raid took place on Saturday as part of a regime counteroffensive against the People’s Defense Force (PDF), which is contesting control over central Magway.

Devastation of historic Bagan-Era heritage

Pakhannge, located 20 miles (32 km) southwest of Chauk town, is home to approximately 200 households and 81 historic religious buildings and temples dating back to the Bagan era (spanning the 9th to 13th centuries)—the historic foundation of the first unified Burmese empire.

Local relief workers and resistance representatives confirmed severe human rights abuses accompanied the assault: