Naypyidaw: Nearly 40 people were killed when bombs were dropped by a paraglider on a crowd protesting against the military junta in Myanmar on Monday evening.
The attack took place in the Chaung U township during a Buddhist festival, where around 100 people had gathered to mark a national holiday.
Reports say that the two bombs were released from a motorised paraglider. Witnesses said the explosions tore through the crowd within minutes. Survivors described scenes of chaos, with many bodies badly mutilated and difficult to identify.
The Sagaing region, where the attack took place, has been one of the main battlegrounds since the military seized power in 2021, it has been reported by BBC. Thousands have been killed and millions displaced since then. Armed resistance groups, known as the People’s Defence Force (PDF), control much of the area and had reportedly received warnings of a possible air attack.
The military that is now in power in the country, has recently regained some territory through heavy airstrikes and bombardments. Amnesty International said the use of paragliders to launch attacks shows a disturbing new trend in the junta’s tactics. International sanctions have limited Myanmar’s access to military aircraft, leading it to rely on smaller air vehicles and technology supplied by China and Russia.
Amnesty International has urged the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to take stronger action against Myanmar’s military rulers. The group said the attack shows the urgent need to protect civilians.
According to sources, Monday’s protest had been organised as a peaceful vigil against military conscription and the upcoming national election, while also demanding the release of political prisoners, including former leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Myanmar is expected to hold elections in December, but critics say that voting will not be fair. The results will only help the military retain control, they said.
