Two children killed as Myanmar military fires on boat taking them home from school

Two children were killed and three other people injured when junta troops opened fire on a boat carrying schoolchildren near Toe Ma Wa village in Paletwa township.

Residents said two of the injured were also schoolchildren. They were all students from Toemawa Middle School in Paletwa’s Remawa village who take the boat along the Kalatan river every day.

About 10 students boarded the boat at 3 p.m. on Tuesday after lessons had ended. The Kalatan River is the only way to commute between Toemawa and Remawa villages. The boat came under fire between Reemawa and the student’s home village.

“They were studying in Toemawa and this happened on their way back from school,” a local resident told RFA on condition of anonymity for safety reasons. 

“They were shot by junta troops deployed between Toemawa and Remawa villages. More than 10 students were on the motor boat.”

Fifth-grade students Nay Min Tun and Aung Than Myint, both 12, were killed. The injured were identified as female student Khin Si, male student Aung Lin Win and Padu, a general worker at the school.

Aung Than Myint was shot in the head and Nay Min Tun was shot in his abdomen and shoulder.

Residents told RFA that since Tuesday morning, the Arakan Army (AA) and Military Council troops have been fighting near Namada village. Troops from the Ka La Ya 289 battalion fired heavy artillery during Tuesday’s fighting.

Calls seeking comment made by RFA to Thant Zin, the Military Council-appointed Social Affairs Minister in Chin State went unanswered.

Junta troops and the AA have fought twice since July 18. Some border police forces and 14 junta troops were killed. A police chief was snatched by the AA along with weapons and ammunition.