Description:
"1. The Ministry of Human Rights and the Ministry o f Women, Youths and
Children Affairs o f the National Unity Government (NUG) express their
outrage at the hostage-taking o f up to 80 children by military junta troops in
Yinmabin Township o f Sagaing Region.
2. On the morning o f 26 February 2022, junta forces targeted Chin Pone and
adjacent villages in Yinmabin Township with indiscriminate air strikes.
Subsequent raids on the villages followed.
3. At the time o f the attacks, up to 80 children, all under 12 years o f age and many
under five, were attending a kindergarten in Chin Pone village. Teachers
evacuated the children to the basement o f a nearby monastery, where they were
later located and have since been held hostage by junta troops.
4. Junta troops in Chin Pone village have reportedly broadcast threats over
loudspeaker, claiming that they will bum the village down unless locals that
fled the violence return. The children remain hostages in this threat. Given the
junta’s escalating acts o f terror and atrocity crimes against civilians, the NUG
holds well-founded fears that returning villagers would be killed, disappeared,
tortured or arbitrarily detained. It also holds grave fears for safety of the captive
ch ildren.
5. The NUG condemns in the strongest possible terms the junta's hostage-taking
of the children as well as their teachers and parents. It calls on the international
community to join its efforts to secure their immediate and unconditional
release.
6. The NUG also restates Myanmar’s commitment to its international obligations,
including under international humanitarian law and the Convention on the
Rights o f the Ch ild and its optional protocols. Children have a primary claim to
protection under international law, and their abduction and hostage-taking
comprises a grave violation..."
Source/publisher:
Ministry of Human Rights and Ministry of Women, Youths and Children Affairs National Unity Government
Date of Publication:
2022-02-28
Date of entry:
2022-02-28
Grouping:
- Individual Documents
Category:
Countries:
Myanmar
Language:
English
Local URL:
Format:
pdf pdf
Size:
59.35 KB 220.94 KB
Resource Type:
text
Text quality:
- Good