Junta Attack on Buddhist Festival in Myanmar Kills 40

Darwin, October 8 — At least 40 people have been killed in a bomb attack by Myanmar’s military junta during a Buddhist festival and anti-junta protest in a central town. At least 80 others were injured, including several children.

The French news agency AFP reported this on Tuesday (October 7), citing eyewitnesses.

According to the report, on Monday evening in the central town of Chaung-U, a Buddhist festival was held alongside an anti-junta protest. A female member of the organizing committee said hundreds gathered in Chaung-U for the Thadingyut Full Moon Festival. During the event, participants began protesting against the junta rule. At that moment, the military targeted the protesters with bombs.

The report also stated that since the military coup in 2021, Myanmar has been engulfed in civil war. Pro-democracy forces have allied with various ethnic armed groups to fight the military junta.

The female committee member, who wished to remain anonymous for security reasons, said that around 7 p.m. on Monday, two bombs were dropped, killing at least 40 people and injuring 80 more.

She said committee members had warned people about the attack, which allowed about one-third of the crowd to escape. However, shortly afterward, a motorized paraglider flew over the venue and dropped two bombs.

She described the bombing as horrific, with children’s bodies mutilated. Volunteers were still collecting scattered human remains and body parts from the site as of Tuesday morning.

Another resident of Chaung-U, who was present at the event, confirmed the death toll. He said people began running after seeing the paraglider overhead, just before the bombs were dropped.

Speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, he said, “Two of my comrades died right in front of me. Many others were killed before my eyes.” He attended the funerals of nine victims on Tuesday.

Local media in Myanmar also confirmed the death toll of 40 due to the junta’s attack. However, as of Tuesday night, no spokesperson from Myanmar’s military government had commented on the incident, AFP reported.

Myanmar is scheduled to hold national elections on December 28. The junta government claims the upcoming election will pave the way for national reconciliation.

However, a United Nations expert described the election as a sham and an attempt to cover up ongoing military rule. Meanwhile, Myanmar’s resistance groups have already condemned the military’s election as rigged and threatened to block it.