‘Nightmare scenario’

IN two months of devastation that have rocked Myanmar, at least 43 children have been killed by armed forces, according to rights organisation Save the Children.

The group said the South East Asian country was in a “nightmare situation”, with the youngest known victim just six years old.

Myanmar has been engulfed in violence since February’s military coup, when the democratically-elected government was kicked out — leading to sustained protests.

With the violence increasing in recent weeks — and more than 100 people killed last Saturday alone — Save the Children says the death toll of children has more than doubled in the past 12 days.

It said the army was demonstrating the “utter disrespect of armed forces for the lives of children. This is a nightmare scenario unfolding”, the group said.

“Innocent children have had their futures brutally and needlessly snatched away from them. Grieving families –– among them young children who have seen siblings die –– are suffering unimaginable loss and pain.”

The total number of people killed now stands at 535, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP). Save the Children says the youngest victim was a girl, who was just six years old.

“A total of 15 children under the age of 16 are among the casualties, including children aged 9 and 11,” it said in a statement.

“Among those killed were a 13-year-old boy who was reportedly shot in the head whilst trying to run away from armed forces, and a 14-year-old Mandalay boy was reportedly shot dead while he was inside or around his home.

Picture: AP Photo A family member mourns over the death of Aung Myo Thant as they gather at his funeral in Yangon, Myanmar on Tuesday. Family members said Aung Myo Thant was killed on Monday during a clash with security forces at a protest against the military’s coup that ousted the government of Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1.