TL/DR –
Over 20 people were killed in Myanmar after military paraglider attacks on an antigovernment candlelight vigil in the Sagaing Region, according to Amnesty International. The military has been using motorised paragliders to drop munitions on civilian areas, a tactic known to the UN Human Rights Office. Amid attempts to solidify power with a stage-managed election, the military has intensified its brutal campaign against resistance, leading to a death toll of over 75,000 and displacing more than 3 million since the 2021 coup.
Amnesty Reports Paraglider Attack in Myanmar by Military
Amnesty International has reported that the military deployed a paraglider during an antigovernment gathering in central Myanmar, resulting in more than 20 fatalities. The incident occurred in Myanmar’s Sagaing Region where locals were taking part in a Buddhist festival and demanding the release of political prisoners.
Militarisation Persists After 2021 Coup
“This incident is just the latest in a series of attacks tracing back to the beginning of the 2021 military coup,” stated Joe Freeman, Myanmar Researcher at Amnesty International. He added, “In an effort to consolidate power through a contrived election later this year, the military is escalating its already ruthless campaign against any form of resistance.”
Details of the Attack
The assaults on Chaung-U Township occurred in two phases, first at 8pm (13:30 GMT) and then again at 11pm (16:30 GMT). The attacks resulted in death tolls ranging from 20 to 32 individuals and left many more injured, according to The Irrawaddy, a Thailand-based independent news outlet. While the official death toll is yet to be confirmed, the UN Human Rights Office recognises the use of motorised paragliders for dropping munitions on civilian locations as a strategy often adopted by Myanmar’s military.
Myanmar’s Ongoing Civil War
Since 2021, Myanmar has been engulfed in civil war between the military-led government, various armed opposition groups and ethnic armed organisations, following a military coup that ousted a democratically elected leadership. The conflict has displaced over 3 million and claimed more than 75,000 lives, as per UN figures. The military has frequently targeted ethnic minority civilians or communities like Chaung-U Township that are in proximity to bases of armed groups, as per human rights organisations.
Contest for Territory
A 2024 BBC investigation estimated that the military controlled about 20% of the country, while armed opposition and ethnic armed groups held sway over approximately 40% of Myanmar’s territory. The military government lifted a long-standing state of emergency in July and has scheduled elections for year-end, however, critics argue that a peace process must precede the restoration of a “democratic political system”.
Call for International Action
Freeman from Amnesty International has urged international bodies such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the UN to take more action. “[ASEAN] must escalate the pressure on the junta and reconsider a strategy that has failed the Myanmar people for nearly five years since the coup toppled the country’s democratically elected government,” he stated. “The UN Security Council should also refer the situation in Myanmar in its entirety to the International Criminal Court.”
—
Read More US Political News