Over 20 people were killed in central Myanmar after a Myanmar military attack using paragliders struck civilians during a nighttime vigil. The incident marks another brutal escalation in the country’s ongoing civil conflict since the 2021 coup.
More than 20 civilians were killed in central Myanmar’s Sagaing Region after the military carried out motorised paraglider attacks during an anti-government candlelight vigil. The assault struck Chaung-U Township twice on Monday night as locals gathered to mark a Buddhist festival and demand the release of political prisoners.
According to Amnesty International, the attack represents a new level of brutality by the junta as it seeks to consolidate power ahead of planned elections. Rights groups said the military frequently targets ethnic minority regions and opposition-controlled areas across the country.
The Irrawaddy reported that the attacks took place in two waves at 8pm and 11pm, killing between 20 and 32 people and injuring dozens. The UN Human Rights Office said the military has increasingly used motorised paragliders to drop explosives on civilian gatherings.
Myanmar has remained in turmoil since the 2021 military coup that overthrew its elected government. The ongoing conflict has killed more than 75,000 people and displaced over 3 million, according to UN estimates. Amnesty has urged ASEAN and the UN to increase pressure on the junta and refer the crisis to the International Criminal Court.
