Paraglider bombs Buddhist event in Myanmar; dozens killed

Amnesty International researcher Joe Freeman on Tuesday called on the United Nations Security Council to refer the deadly bombing in Myanmar to the International Criminal Court. The country’s military by Wednesday had not publicly acknowledged the attack. Similar attacks involving motorized paragliders have become more common in recent years, according to Amnesty International.

At least 32 people died and 50 were injured Monday night when paragliders dropped bombs on the central township of Chaung-U, according to The Irrawaddy, an independent media outlet. The attack was carried out by the Myanmar military and took place during the full moon celebration of the Buddhist festival of light, according to a report from the group, which was founded by Myanmar journalists in exile in Thailand. The religious event also included a candlelight vigil to protest the military junta controlling the country.

What is the background of the conflict? Myanmar descended into civil war in 2021 after the military seized control of the government and detained former leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Military leaders at the time claimed to have declared a state of emergency over alleged election fraud that handed Suu Kyi’s political party a landslide victory. Civilians, opposition parties, and paramilitary groups have since protested and fought back against the military junta. The fighting has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions of others. Meanwhile, the junta has scheduled an election for December, but independent groups are skeptical that the election will be run fairly. 

Dig deeper: Read my report from earlier this year about an airstrike that killed students and teachers at a school in northwestern Myanmar.