{"id":170603,"date":"2020-10-19T12:00:27","date_gmt":"2020-10-19T11:00:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/?p=170603"},"modified":"2020-10-15T07:54:45","modified_gmt":"2020-10-15T06:54:45","slug":"myanmar-shocking-killing-of-children-allegedly-used-as-human-shields","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/2020\/10\/myanmar-shocking-killing-of-children-allegedly-used-as-human-shields\/","title":{"rendered":"Myanmar: \u2018Shocking\u2019 Killing of Children Allegedly Used as Human Shields"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"field field-name-field-news-story-lead field-type-text-long field-label-hidden\">\n<div class=\"field-items\">\n<div class=\"field-item even\">\n<blockquote><p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/un-news-logo-e1568706362531.png\" ><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-109474\" src=\"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/un-news-logo-e1568706362531.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>UN agencies in Myanmar have expressed \u2018sadness\u2019 and \u2018shock\u2019 over the killing of two boys, allegedly used as human shields by security forces in the country\u2019s northern Rakhine province, earlier this month.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><em>14 Oct 2020 &#8211; <\/em>The two boys were killed in a crossfire between Myanmar\u2019s military, known as the Tatmadaw, and the separatist Arakan Army. The incident occurred on 5 October in Buthidaung township \u2013 a hotspot for army abuses against children\u00a0for non-combat purposes, since mid-2019, the UN agencies said in a <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/myanmar.un.org\/en\/95539-ctfmr-expresses-grave-concern-over-circumstances-two-children-killed-fighting-between\" >statement<\/a>, on Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p>The children were part of a group of around 15 local farmers, all of whom were allegedly forced to walk in front of a Tatmadaw unit to ensure the path towards a military camp was clear of landmines, and to protect the soldiers from potential enemy fire.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Statement from the Co-Chairs of the UN Country Taskforce on Monitoring and Reporting on Grave Violations against Children in Myanmar<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/NEsTArVCaq\" >https:\/\/t.co\/NEsTArVCaq<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; United Nations in Myanmar (@UNinMyanmar) <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/UNinMyanmar\/status\/1316335964856360962?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" >October 14, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>On the way, fighting broke out between the Tatmadaw and the Arakan Army, after which the two boys were found dead with gunshot wounds.<\/p>\n<h3>\u2018Hold killers accountable\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>The incident occurred within the 12 months of the delisting of the Tatmadaw for underage recruitment\u00a0in the UN Secretary-General\u2019s Annual Report on Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC) of 2020, agencies noted.<\/p>\n<p>In the\u00a0<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/myanmar.un.org\/en\/95539-ctfmr-expresses-grave-concern-over-circumstances-two-children-killed-fighting-between\" >statement<\/a>, the UN agencies \u2013 co-chairs of the UN Country Taskforce on Monitoring and Reporting on Grave Violations against Children in Myanmar (CTFMR) \u2013 called for a \u201cfull, transparent, and expedited investigation of the incident\u201d and for anyone responsible for the use and for the killing of the children to be held accountable.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis egregious incident serves as a stark reminder that children are put at risk of being killed or injured whenever they are associated with armed forces and groups in any capacity or function, regardless of the duration of their association,\u201d the agencies said.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_170604\" style=\"width: 610px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/myanmar-burma-rohingya.jpg\" ><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-170604\" class=\"wp-image-170604\" src=\"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/myanmar-burma-rohingya-1024x464.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"272\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/myanmar-burma-rohingya-1024x464.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/myanmar-burma-rohingya-300x136.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/myanmar-burma-rohingya-768x348.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/myanmar-burma-rohingya.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-170604\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A settlement in Rakhine province, northern Myanmar. (file photo) OCHA\/Pierre Peron<\/p><\/div>\n<h3>\u2018Alarming\u2019 increase in violations<\/h3>\n<p>The UN agencies also voiced \u201cdeep alarm\u201d over an alarming increase of reports of killings and injuries of children in Myanmar.<\/p>\n<p>More than 100 children were killed or maimed in conflict during the first three months of 2020, amounting to more than half of the total number in 2019, and significantly surpassing the total number of child casualties in 2018.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs Myanmar tackles the resurgence of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.un.org\/coronavirus\" class=\"word-link\" title=\"Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)\"  target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">COVID-19<\/a>, we urge all parties to the conflict to intensify efforts to ensure children are protected from all grave violations, to ensure access to humanitarian assistance and services, and to exercise maximum restraint in the use of force where civilians are present,\u201d they urged.<\/p>\n<h3>\u2018Grave Violations\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>Adopted unanimously by the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.un.org\/securitycouncil\/\" class=\"word-link\" title=\"United Nations Security Council\"  target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Security Council<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/undocs.org\/S\/Res\/1612%20(2005)\" class=\"word-link\"  target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">resolution 1612<\/a> on children and armed conflict mandates the United Nations to establish UN-led taskforces in countries where there is verified evidence that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.unicef.org\/stories\/children-under-attack-six-grave-violations-against-children-times-war\" class=\"word-link\"  target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">grave violations<\/a> against children are being committed by parties to a conflict, either by armed forces and\/or by armed groups.<\/p>\n<p>Through a monitoring and reporting mechanism, the taskforce documents, verifies and reports to the Security Council on the six grave violations: killing or maiming; recruitment and use in armed forces and armed groups; attacks against schools or hospitals; rape or other grave sexual violence; abduction; and denial of humanitarian access.<\/p>\n<p>In Myanmar the the taskforce was established in 2007 and is co-chaired by the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.unicef.org\/\" class=\"word-link\" title=\"United Nations Children\u2019s Fund\"  target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">UNICEF<\/a> Representative to the country.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/news.un.org\/en\/story\/2020\/10\/1075362?utm_source=UN+News+-+Newsletter&amp;utm_campaign=c801494a85-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_10_15_12_20&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_term=0_fdbf1af606-c801494a85-105796125\" >Go to Original &#8211; news.un.org<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>14 Oct 2020 &#8211; UN agencies in Myanmar have expressed \u2018sadness\u2019 and \u2018shock\u2019 over the killing of two boys, allegedly used as human shields by security forces in Rakhine . They were killed in a crossfire between Myanmar\u2019s military and the separatist Arakan Army.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":170604,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[677],"tags":[240,1692,1688,1198,526,101,100,1199,1782,865,260,487,1644,651,1417,103,107,527,985,99,124,1948],"class_list":["post-170603","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-asia-updates-on-myanmar-rohingya-genocide","tag-asia","tag-aung-san-suu-kyi","tag-bangladesh","tag-buddhism","tag-burma-myanmar","tag-cultural-violence","tag-direct-violence","tag-ethnic-cleansing","tag-free-rohingya-coalition","tag-genocide","tag-history","tag-human-rights","tag-international-court-of-justice-icj","tag-justice","tag-maung-zarni","tag-racism","tag-religion","tag-rohingya","tag-social-justice","tag-structural-violence","tag-united-nations","tag-yanghee-lee"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/170603","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=170603"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/170603\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/170604"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=170603"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=170603"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=170603"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}