Myanmar army denies deadly attack on school, media distorts reports

Bangkok. Myanmar’s military government on Tuesday denied reports that the military carried out airstrikes on schools in the country’s troubled north-central region. The army accused the media of distorting facts. Major General Jo Min Tun, a spokesman for the ruling military council, admitted at a news conference in the capital Naipitaw that fighting had been going on in the Tabyin settlement in the Sagaing region since last Friday. However, he blamed the government’s armed opponents for the casualties. Six elderly villagers were also injured in this attack along with school children.

Witnesses told the Associated Press and other media that two helicopter gunships opened fire on a Buddhist monastery school in Kon village. In this school, 20 volunteers teach 240 students from Kindergarten to Class VIII. The school administration said that about 80 soldiers entered the monastery and opened fire. The administrator, who killed his pseudonym, said that 30 children were injured in the shootout. While 20 other children including three teachers were picked up by the soldiers.

Military government attacks on pro-democracy rebels and their allies often result in civilian casualties. However, the number of children killed in an airstrike last Friday in Tabayin township in the Sagaing region was the highest since the military seized power in February last year. The takeover of the army triggered massive non-violent protests across the country. The army and police responded with deadly force. According to a report released by UNICEF this month, fighting has been particularly fierce in Sagaing, where the military has launched several offensive operations. In some cases villages have been burnt, in which more than five lakh people have been displaced.

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tags: myanmar