Myanmar: Save the Children workers among victims of the massacre

Myanmar: Save the Children workers among victims of the massacre

The find had caused horror: a few days ago, around 35 bodies were found in burned-out trucks in Myanmar. According to the latest information, the victims of the alleged military attack also include humanitarian workers.

They themselves had only recently become fathers: According to the children’s aid organization, two employees of Save the Children were murdered in the massacre allegedly carried out by members of the army in Myanmar. The organization confirmed “with deep sadness” on Tuesday that “two Save the Children employees were among the at least 35 people” who were “killed in an attack by the military in Myanmar, Kayah state” last Friday.

On Saturday, photos of two burned-out trucks and a car in which Myanmar rebels claimed to have discovered dozens of charred corpses were distributed in online networks. A representative of the rebel group fighting against the ruling military junta People’s Defense Forces (PDF) said that their fighters had found the vehicles in the municipality of Hpruso in the eastern state of Kayah.

Save the Children calls murders “absolutely horrific”

The Myanmar Witness observatory said 35 people, including children and women, were “burned and killed by the military”. A rebel representative also accused the army of killing the civilians. A junta spokesman only confirmed that there were clashes in Hpruso on Friday after soldiers tried to stop seven “suspicious” cars. Several people were killed, the spokesman said without giving any details.

According to Save the Children, the two workers killed were “fathers who cared about raising children. One was 32 years old, had a 10-month-old son, and had been with Save the Children for two years in teacher training. The another, 28 years old and father of a three-month-old daughter, had worked for the aid organization for six years. “

The men were on their way back to their office after a humanitarian mission when they were implicated in the attack. “We have confirmation that your private vehicle was attacked and set on fire,” said the non-governmental organization. The military reportedly forced people out of their cars, arrested some, killed others and burned their bodies.

The director of Save the Children, Inger Ashing, called the news of the attack and the death of the two employees “absolutely appalling”. “We are shocked by the violence directed against civilians and our workers, who are committed philanthropists who support millions of children in need across Myanmar,” she said. This “senseless attack” is a “blatant violation of international humanitarian law”. Ashing demanded a swift response from the UN. “The UN Security Council must meet as soon as possible to determine the steps it will take to hold those responsible to account.”

Myanmar is sinking into chaos and violence

After a brief phase of democratization in Myanmar, the military overthrew the de facto head of government, Aung San Suu Kyi, in February. Since then, the former Burma has sunk into chaos and violence. More than 1,300 people were killed and more than 10,000 arrested in the crackdown on protests across the country. In addition, the military is said to have committed a series of massacres and tortures, including against the civilian population. More than 20 rebel groups are now fighting against the ruling junta in the country.

The new UN envoy for Myanmar, Noeleen Heyzer, expressed “deeply concerned” about the ongoing violence on Monday. In her first official statement in office, Heyzer called on all sides to a ceasefire. In addition, humanitarian aid must be provided – “also for those who are forced to flee the violence”.

Sources: , AFP

Source From: Stern

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