Government Of National Unity: 1,222 Citizens Killed At The Hands Of Myanmar Military Regime, Including 98 Children And 89 Women

JAKARTA - The Myanmar junta killed about 100 children and at least 89 women in the 10 months since a coup, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs for Women, Youth and Children of the Myanmar National Unity Government (NUG).

The shadow ministry reported last week that some 98 children were among at least 1,222 people killed by regime forces across Myanmar from February 1 to November 17.

Among the dead was a one-year-old child in Mandalay and Khin Myo Chit, six, who was shot dead while sitting on his father's lap when troops broke into his Mandalay home.

Meanwhile, Aye Myat Thu (11), shot in the head while playing in front of his house in the capital of Mon State, Mawlamyine and Salai Van Bawi Thang were shot dead by junta troops in Thantlang, Chin State. Htoo Myat Win, 13, was shot dead while playing near his home in Shwebo, Sagaing County.

Mandalay region experienced the highest number of child deaths with around 29 deaths, followed by Yangon and Sagaing regions with more than 12 children killed, according to the ministry report.

Most of the victims were shot dead while playing near their homes or taking cover at home when soldiers and police opened fire randomly in residential areas. Several older children died in the protests.

Children, including a one-year-old child, were seriously injured when soldiers and police fired indiscriminately during the raid. Children were also killed and injured by junta air raids on resistance strongholds.

NUG Human Rights Minister U Aung Myo Min at the World Congress on Justice with Children on November 18 accused the junta of targeting children.

"Children have been shot and killed in the streets of cities, arrested, detained and tortured and used as human shields in military attacks on ethnic areas. Children are also held hostage to pressure family members to turn themselves in," Myo said. Min.

He added that children's rights are a priority in NUG's international involvement in the United Nations and foreign governments.

Apart from children, at least 89 women have been killed by regime forces, the NUG ministry reported this week. The first death in the regime's crackdown on the protest movement against a military takeover was 20-year-old student Ma Mya Thwet Thwet Khine. He was shot in the head at a protest in Naypyitaw on February 9.

Among the women killed were striking civil servants, teachers, students, medics, and activists.

Women have been key members of the protests against the junta since February 1 and the armed resistance movement since it began in late March.

The Ministry of Civil Women and Human Rights released a joint statement saying the regime continues to use sexual violence as a weapon against women.

Last month, soldiers in Tedim, Chin State, raped a 27-year-old man who gave birth a month earlier yet to recover from a difficult delivery.

In Shan State, a junta soldier raped a 62-year-old woman in Kutkai Township on November 7. The regime confirmed the rape case and said the soldier would be charged.

For information, the ministry promised to bring evidence to the International Criminal Court and other international courts to provide justice for the victims.

Myanmar Coup. VOI editorial team continues to monitor the political situation in one of the ASEAN member countries. Casualties from civilians continue to fall. Readers can follow the news covering the Myanmar military coup by clicking this link.