Myanmar’s military government has acknowledged carrying out an attack on a religious festival in the Sagaing region, which witnesses claim resulted in the deaths of approximately two dozen people, including children. The attack, which occurred on Monday night, involved bombs dropped by motorized paragliders on a primary school compound in the village of Bon To. The military’s information office issued a statement blaming resistance forces for the casualties, accusing them of using civilians as human shields in their anti-government campaigns. However, neither the government nor its opponents reported any armed combat near the bombing site. The United Nations condemned the attack, with a spokesperson for Secretary-General António Guterres stating that the indiscriminate use of airborne munitions is unacceptable. Witnesses reported that the paragliders conducted two sorties, each dropping two bombs believed to be 120 mm mortar rounds. Initial casualty reports varied, but a local resistance group member estimated 24 deaths and 50 injuries. The attack took place during a traditional oil lamp prayer ceremony marking the end of Buddhist Lent, where attendees also called for the release of political prisoners and protested the military’s planned December election, which critics deem neither free nor fair. The Sagaing region has been a stronghold of armed resistance since the military seized power in February 2021. The military’s statement accused the resistance of forcing civilians to protest, a claim rejected by attendees who stated participation was voluntary. In a separate development, Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan met with Myanmar’s military chief, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, to discuss the upcoming election, humanitarian aid, and peace efforts.
Myanmar’s military acknowledges attacking festival, accuses resistance forces of using human shields
