Wed Oct 08 07:20:00 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article summarizing the provided text:
**Myanmar Military Accused of Paraglider Attack on Civilian Vigil, Killing Dozens**
**YANGON, Myanmar** – At least 20 people are reported dead after the Myanmar military allegedly launched attacks using motorized paragliders on a nighttime civilian gathering in the Sagaing Region on Monday. Amnesty International has condemned the attack, which targeted a candlelight vigil in Chaung-U Township where community members were commemorating a Buddhist festival and calling for the release of political prisoners.
According to reports, the attacks occurred in two waves, first at 8 PM and again at 11 PM local time. The Irrawaddy, an independent news outlet, reported the death toll could be as high as 32, with dozens more injured. The UN Human Rights Office has previously documented the military’s use of motorized paragliders to drop munitions on civilian areas.
Amnesty International’s Myanmar Researcher, Joe Freeman, stated that the attack is part of an intensified campaign of violence by the military as it attempts to consolidate power ahead of planned elections later this year.
Myanmar has been embroiled in a civil war since the 2021 military coup, which ousted the democratically elected government. The conflict has resulted in over 75,000 deaths and displaced more than 3 million people, according to UN estimates. Rights groups say the military frequently targets ethnic minority civilians and communities near areas controlled by armed groups.
While the military government recently lifted a state of emergency and announced elections, critics argue that a genuine peace process is necessary for the restoration of democracy.
Freeman called on international organizations, including ASEAN and the UN Security Council, to take stronger action against the junta. He urged ASEAN to revise its approach, which he described as having failed the Myanmar people since the coup. He also called on the UN Security Council to refer the situation in Myanmar to the International Criminal Court.