At least 24 individuals were reportedly killed and 47 others injured during protests against Myanmar’s military government when a motorised paraglider dropped bombs on the crowd, as stated by a spokesperson for the government-in-exile. This incident occurred on Monday evening in Chaung U township, located in central Myanmar, during a gathering for a national holiday.
Since the military coup in 2021, millions of people have been displaced and thousands have died, leading to an ongoing civil conflict involving armed resistance groups and ethnic militias. The Sagaing region, where the attack took place, has become a critical battleground, with much of it under the control of volunteer militias known as the People’s Defence Force (PDF), which also administer local governance.
A local PDF official indicated they had received warnings of a possible airborne attack during the gathering. Despite their efforts to disperse the protest quickly, the attack occurred sooner than anticipated. Witnesses reported that the chaos unfolded within a matter of minutes, with significant difficulties in identifying the victims afterward. Some participants described disturbing scenes, including the dismemberment of bodies.
Amnesty International commented that the junta’s use of motorised paragliders for attacks indicates a “disturbing trend,” noting that these tactics may arise from a shortage of conventional military aircraft. Meanwhile, sanctions on the military rulers have hampered their ability to acquire military hardware, though advanced drones and technology from China and Russia have provided the junta with advantage in combat.
The gathering was intended as a peaceful candlelight vigil to protest military conscription and the upcoming national elections, while advocating for the release of political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi. Myanmar is scheduled to hold general elections in December, the first since the coup, but critics argue that these elections will not be conducted fairly, allowing the military to maintain its grip on power.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cge2l1xj2zdo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss