Junta accused of killing children to quell Myanmar’s ‘people’s war’

SOLDIERS from Myanmar’s military junta shot dead teenagers, mutilated their bodies and burnt down homes as they raided Myin Thar village last week in a campaign to quell a renewed prodemocracy uprising, witnesses said.

Deadly violence has escalated again in the country, seven months after a military coup. It follows a call last Tuesday by a shadow government for a nationwide revolt – or “people’s defensive war” – against military rule.

Two days later, soldiers on motorbikes descended on Myin Thar, in the Magway region, hunting for armed resistance groups.

As they began torching homes and firing heavy artillery, villagers fled to the forests, protected by a small group of volunteers, including teenage boys, who remained behind to hold the troops back. They were armed with homemade rifles that malfunctioned in the rain. Daw Nu Ma, 45, escaped with her 12-year-old son, while her eldest, Thet Tun Aung, 17, promised to defend the village.

“He said the junta’s soldiers would come and kill us if he didn’t go,” she said.

But when she later called his phone from her hiding place, a soldier answered. “Then I knew for sure that my son is dead,” she said.

“All hope is gone. That day I was running into the forest with my young son in my arms, and my eldest son was dying by the stream.”

Thousands of civilians have been forced to take shelter in terrible conditions in jungles as the army steps up its assaults on ethnic militia groups in borderlands and a growing patchwork of “people’s defence forces” that have formed since the February coup.

In Myin Thar, witnesses spoke of troops chasing down villagers on motorbikes, mutilating children and tying up and beating old people who were too sick to run. Up to 20 people were reported to have been killed.

The resistance movement was buoyed last week by a video appeal from the National Unity Government – a shadow government set up by prodemocracy leaders – for armed insurgency. The NUG has indicated its call is a last resort after its more peaceful overtures failed to make headway.

But the move appears to have unsettled pro-democracy allies such as the UK and US.

“We strongly condemn the junta’s coup and brutality; we call on all parties to engage in dialogue. Further violence will harm vulnerable communities,” Pete Vowles, the UK ambassador to Myanmar, said.

‘That day I was running into the forest with my young son in my arms and my eldest was dying by the stream’