A Festival in Tragedy

At least 24 killed as army paraglider bombs Myanmar Buddhist festival.

At least 24 people were killed and 47 wounded while protesting against Myanmar's military government after an army motorised paraglider dropped two bombs on the crowd, a spokesperson for the government-in-exile told BBC Burmese.

The military attacked on Monday evening as around 100 people gathered in Chaung U township in central Myanmar for a national holiday.

Thousands have died and millions have been displaced since a military coup in 2021, which triggered a civil war with armed resistance groups and ethnic militias.

After losing control of more than half the country, the army is making significant gains again, through an especially bloody campaign of airstrikes and heavy bombardment.

The military government has in recent months augmented its air force with new drones acquired from China - which is now fully supporting the junta - as well as technical assistance from Russia.

The attack on Monday targeted a township in the Sagaing region, where people had gathered on Thadingyut, a full moon festival, to hold a candlelight vigil.

It had been organised as a peaceful protest against the junta's military conscription and an upcoming national election. It also called for the release of political prisoners including Aung San Suu Kyi, the democratically-elected leader who was deposed in the coup and jailed.

- Author: Koh Ewe, Jonathan Head (BBC)