At least 19 students dead in junta bombing of Kyauktaw school

By Admin 13 Sep 2025

DMG Newsroom

13 September 2025, Kyauktaw

Up to 29 children were among the dead and injured in a junta airstrike on a boarding school in Thayet Ta Pin Village, part of Arakan State's Kyauktaw Township, according to a statement from the Arakan Army (AA).

A junta jet fighter dropped two 500-lb bombs on the village at around 1 a.m. on September 12, one of which exploded in front of a student dormitory near the Pyinnyar Pan Khin private school.

The Arakan Army announced on Saturday that 19 students under the age of 18 were killed and 22 others injured in the regime's aerial assault.

"I strongly condemn the bombing by Myanmar's military regime. It is clear that the military regime does not value innocent civilians, children, who are considered valuable in the world. I hope the international community will not ignore this act and bring justice for the innocent people," said a young man in Kyauktaw.

Customary international humanitarian law requires any armed organisation to protect civilians and bars them from attacking, abducting or using civilians as human shields, or targeting civilian dwellings.

However, children in Myanmar are facing serious violations of their rights, and advocates are calling for action against the military regime for violating the rights of the child.

"The students who were killed and injured in the recent junta bombing on a private school in Thayet Ta Pin Village in Kyauktaw are all under the age of 18, as per the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) signed by Myanmar. This is not a one-time violation of children's rights by the military regime. We want the international community to take effective action against the military regime regarding Myanmar's child law," said a woman human rights activist in Arakan State.

Civilian deaths, including children, are rising every month as airstrikes targeting non-combattants continue in areas controlled by the Arakan Army.

Local residents in Arakan State say that airstrikes targeting civilians have caused significant physical and psychological insecurity for civilians, including children.

"The military regime is targeting not only the war zone but also the schools where children study, so some parents are worried about sending their children to school," said a local woman in Kyauktaw Township. "I see the military regime's actions as completely destroying the future of children in Arakan State."

The Arakan Army has stated that the military regime is losing the war not only in Arakan State but across Myanmar, and is continuing to bomb civilian targets rather than military targets based on ethnic hatred.

The Arakan Army statement also expressed its condolences to the families and relatives of the victims of Friday's attack, and strongly condemned the actions of the military regime. The group said it would seek justice for the regime's actions and would retaliate against those responsible for the bombing.

The Arakan Army also urged international organisations to take effective action against the junta's war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The Arakan Army has warned the public to be more vigilant about airstrikes as the regime targets civilians and AA personnel in Arakan State, carrying out more airstrikes on towns, hospitals, schools, and densely populated areas.