Photo: Khin Myo Chit
A 7-year-old girl has been shot dead by police in Myanmar after they stormed her father's house. Her father is believed to be part of the pro-democracy movement that is currently undertaking mass-mobilisations against the military junta that took power on February the 1st this year.
Khin Myo Chit was shot as she ran towards her father who was being detained. Save the Children say that more than 20 children have been killed since the uprising began some weeks ago, of which Khin Myo Chit is the youngest to be killed. On Monday, a 14-year-old boy was shot dead during protests.
So far, as many as 250 people have been killed in pro-democracy demonstrations and thousands have been arrested by Myanmar security forces and the Myanmar military, who are noted for their extreme violence and brutality. The detained include dozens of journalists, including reporters from the BBC who have not been heard of since they were detained.
May Thu Sumaya, the older sister of the 7-year-old killed, said that the police raided their home looking for weapons. She said:
"They kicked the door to open it. When the door was open, they asked my father whether there were any other people in the house."
She said it was then that her younger sister ran over to her father. She added:
"Then they shot and hit her."
It is believed that the child died less than 30 minutes later. Her 19-year-old brother was also beaten and detained.
Save the Children said in a statement:
"The death of these children is especially concerning given that they reportedly were killed while being at home, where they should have been safe from harm. The fact that so many children are being killed on an almost daily basis now shows a complete disregard for human life by security forces."
The military coup on February 1st overthrew 10 years of democracy in Myanmar and led to the arrest of long-time pro-democracy leader and Prime Minister Aung Sang Suu Kyi, who weeks before the coup won a landslide election victory. The military had run Myanmar as a dictatorship for many decades, and despite a move towards democracy, the military has always kept a prominent role in the running of the south-east Asian nation.
The coup and the subsequent actions of the military have been condemned by foreign governments, human-rights groups and the United Nations.
[h/t: BBC]
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