What kind of government bombs its own people on a national holiday? That’s the grim question haunting Myanmar today.
At least 24 people were killed and 47 wounded.
The country’s military dropped two bombs from a motorized paraglider onto a peaceful candlelight vigil in Chaung U township.
The crowd had gathered to mark the Thadingyut full moon festival — and to demand freedom for political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi.
“It all happened in seven minutes,” said a local resistance fighter, describing scenes of chaos and horror.
Nightmare For Myanmar
“Children were completely torn apart,” another witness told AFP, still shaken from what she called a “nightmare come to life.”
This is not an isolated attack. The junta is armed with Chinese drones and Russian technical support.
It has ramped up airstrikes in regions it had lost control of.
As Amnesty International’s Joe Freeman put it, “This should serve as a gruesome wake-up call — civilians in Myanmar need urgent protection.”
ASEAN leaders, set to meet later this month, are once again under pressure to act.
But after nearly five years of bloodshed, few in Myanmar believe anyone’s coming to help.
A full moon festival meant for light and renewal ended in ashes.
It was another tragic reminder that for many in Myanmar, even hope has become a battlefield.
