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MYANMAR-UNREST-RAKHINE-CHILDREN
20 children injured as Myanmar school hit by mortar
YANGON, Feb 13, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Around 20 children were injured Thursday
when mortar fire hit a primary school in the northern fringes of Myanmar’s
Rakhine state, an area where the military is locked in battle with Arakan
Army (AA) rebels.
The attack happened in Buthidaung township, one of several areas in
lockdown, and it is not clear who was responsible.
Scores of civilians have been killed, hundreds injured and some 100,000
displaced since January last year when both sides stepped up operations.
The AA claims to be fighting for more autonomy for ethnic Rakhine
Buddhists.
Teacher Thar Aye Maung from Khamwe village told AFP by phone how his school
was hit Thursday morning, injuring 21 pupils.
“One girl is badly hurt. Most of the others have injuries to their hands
and legs.”
He said all the wounded children were ethnic Khami, a Buddhist minority in
a state with a complex patchwork of different groups living alongside the
Rakhine.
The fighting was about two miles away from the village, he added.
“We thought the shells couldn’t reach our school.”
Maungdaw district chief Soe Aung confirmed the incident, but said 19
children had been wounded. There was “no reason” to believe the mortar had
been fired by the military, said Western command spokesman Colonel Win Zaw
Oo, adding the army sometimes loses weapons and ammunition to the rebels.
“(The AA) fires at villages with our shells and then misleadingly claims
the military is responsible.”
The armed rebel group could not be reached for comment.
The AA has ratcheted up operations in recent months with a series of brazen
kidnappings, bombings and raids against the military and local officials.
The army has hit back hard, deploying thousands of soldiers to the area.
Buthidaung is one of nine townships to suffer a government-imposed internet
blackout, restrictions decried by rights groups in a statement Thursday.
“(They) disproportionately affect civilians in conflict areas, hampering
humanitarian aid operations, livelihoods, and the work of human rights
monitors.”
Northern Rakhine state is the same area that saw an exodus to Bangladesh of
some 740,000 Rohingya Muslims fleeing brutal military operations in 2017.
BSS/AFP/RY/19:58 hrs