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April 15, 2010: Bombing at Burmese water festival

On April 15, 2010 three bombs killed eight people and wounded 170 more at the Thingyan water festival in Myanmar.

YANGON, MYANMAR (aka BURMA) – Water is about as essential as it gets for human existence: so why do terrorist target it?

Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink!” So goes the saying coined by the English poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge in The Rime of the Ancient Mariner  in 1798. The phrase means that despite being surrounded by something, you cannot benefit from it. And here I thought it referred to being on the ocean with all its salt water unfit for human consumption: I guess that shows what do I know?

Simply put, water is a very important element for the existence of life, include ours as humans. You can go for a long time without food but only about three days without H2O.

Looks simple, doesn’t it? Just try to go on without it!’ (Photo: Wendelin Jacober on Flickr, Public Domain)

In some cultures water is seen as so critical that there are festivals and events that celebrate its essential nature. Burma (Myanmar) is an example. And sometimes these gatherings invite terrorism.

On this day in 2010

Three bombs killed eight people and wounded 170 more at the Thingyan water festival in Yangon (formerly known as Rangoon). The identity of the terrorists was not known.

Attacking those participating in the traditional Thingyan happily and peacefully with the bombs is an insult to the people. It is an inhuman act. Because of such subversive acts, we the people abhor and loath the terrorist insurgents.  

New Light of Myanmar

The blasts caused panic among hundreds of thousands of revelers engaged in a water throwing event. The blasts caused panic among the revelers and the injured were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment, especially the biggest Yangon General Hospital which was packed with relatives of the victims.. Who wants to hurt people having fun? Terrorists, that’s who!

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By Phil Gurski

Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. Phil is a 32-year veteran of CSE and CSIS and the author of six books on terrorism.

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