The Myanmar military attack on a religious festival in central Myanmar killed at least 24 people, including children, officials and witnesses confirmed on Thursday. The army acknowledged carrying out the strike but accused resistance groups of using civilians as human shields.
The deadly assault took place Monday night in Bon To village, located in Sagaing region, a stronghold of anti-junta resistance forces. Witnesses said bombs were dropped by motorized paragliders, hitting a school compound where hundreds had gathered for a Buddhist ceremony.
Witnesses Describe the Myanmar Military Attack
Locals said the Myanmar military attack involved two paragliders that dropped four explosive devices on the school grounds. Each bomb exploded on impact, sending debris and shrapnel through the crowd.
A local resistance fighter who helped collect the bodies told The Associated Press that 24 people were killed and around 50 injured. Victims included children, villagers, and members of political activist groups.
“We were lighting lamps when the bombs fell,” said one survivor. “People screamed and ran as fire spread everywhere.”
Military Blames Resistance Forces
The junta’s information office confirmed the airstrike but said it targeted what it called a “terrorist gathering.” Officials accused the People’s Defense Force (PDF) of organizing the festival to incite unrest and of forcing civilians to attend.
They described the strike as a counterterrorism mission aimed at minimizing casualties. However, residents dismissed the claim.
“No one forced us to attend,” said a villager. “We came voluntarily to pray and demand freedom for political prisoners.”
Festival Marked Buddhist Lent and Political Resistance
The festival was held to mark the end of Buddhist Lent and also to protest the junta’s planned December elections. Locals used the event to call for the release of political prisoners and reject the army’s rule.
Since seizing power from Aung San Suu Kyi’s government in February 2021, the military has faced widespread resistance. After peaceful protests were crushed, civilians formed local defense groups under the People’s Defense Force banner.
Sagaing has since become a center of the armed resistance, where frequent Myanmar military attacks have devastated villages and forced thousands to flee.
International Condemnation and UN Response
The United Nations condemned the Myanmar military attack, calling it “indiscriminate and unacceptable.” A spokesperson for UN Secretary-General António Guterres said the assault violated international humanitarian law.
Human rights groups also condemned the use of airborne bombs on civilian gatherings. “This was a deliberate strike on innocent people,” said an activist with Myanmar Witness. “The junta is committing war crimes with complete impunity.”
Furthermore, global leaders have urged the international community to impose stricter sanctions on Myanmar’s generals and to push for humanitarian access to the conflict zones.
Diplomatic Efforts Amid Escalating Violence
Meanwhile, Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan met Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing in Naypyitaw on Thursday. They discussed the upcoming elections, humanitarian cooperation, and regional peace.
Malaysia currently chairs the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which has repeatedly called for dialogue and a ceasefire. However, peace efforts under ASEAN’s Five-Point Consensus have made little progress as the junta continues military operations.
Regional diplomats say ASEAN faces growing frustration over Myanmar’s ongoing violence and humanitarian crisis.
Myanmar’s Deepening Civil War
Almost five years after the coup, Myanmar remains trapped in a civil war between the junta and resistance forces. The People’s Defense Force and ethnic armed organizations control vast rural areas, while the army clings to major cities through airstrikes and mass arrests.
Aid groups estimate that millions are displaced and lack access to food and medical care. Despite international outrage, the junta shows no signs of easing its campaign.
“The Myanmar military attack in Sagaing shows the junta’s disregard for human life,” said a rights activist in Mandalay. “Until the world acts decisively, civilians will continue to suffer.”
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