Myanmar's military bombed a crowd gathered for a Buddhist Festival of Lights and a demonstration against the military junta on Monday, killing more than 40 people, including children, organizing committee members and eyewitnesses said today.
For its part, the non-governmental human rights organization Amnesty International said, citing eyewitnesses, that 17 to 20 people were killed in the attack.
Thousands of people gathered on Monday evening in Chaung U (central Myanmar) for this festival, which marks the end of Buddhist Lent.
The army bombed the protesters, using a powered paraglider to attack, an unnamed member of the festival's organizing committee told AFP.
According to the article, the crowd had gathered to celebrate and also to protest against the ruling junta when the bombings began at around 7:00 p.m., killing more than 40 people and injuring 80.
"The organizing committee warned people, and a third of the crowd managed to escape. However, a motorized paraglider flew over the crowd and dropped two bombs on the center of the gathering," the member added, noting that some victims were buried today and that the remains of some victims are still being collected.
One eyewitness confirmed the death toll at 40. According to him, people tried to escape when they realized a powered paraglider was flying above them.
He said that he attended the funerals of nine of his friends today.
Local media also reported that around 40 people were killed.
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