Teachers group and CSOs denounce attack on Buthidaung schoolhouse

By Khin Tharaphy Oo 15 Feb 2020

Khin Thayapy Oo | DMG
February 15, Sittwe
 
The Myanmar Teachers’ Federation and a coalition of civil society organisations released a statement on February 15 denouncing those responsible for an artillery attack last week on a village school Buthidaung Township, which left 21 students injured.
 
Both the Tatmadaw and the Arakan Army (AA) have denied responsibility and blamed each other for the incident.
 
In the statement, more than 100 CSOs said that the denials showed a lack of accountability for their actions on both sides.
 
“We can say that even children are in an unsafe situation when shells fall on schools. All armed groups have a responsibility not to hurt the civilians,” said Ko Aung Myo Kyaw, an official from the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP).
 
The statement said leaders of the government and the armed groups should make an official apology, arrange mental health support programmes for those affected, and ensure justice for the injured children and their parents.
 
“There needs to be changes in all armed groups so that this kind of bad incident doesn’t happen again in the future,” the statement said.
 
The statement also said that it was unfair that children were being affected by political and racial conflicts, adding that it was an important responsibility of all nationals to let children grow up in a free and peaceful environment and go to school safe from physical and mental harm.
 
The statement also urged the warring parties to avoid clashes in compounds intended for religious, educational and healthcare-related purposes.
 
Twenty-one students were injured when an artillery shell hit the post-primary school in Khami Chaung village on the morning of February 13. Two of the students suffered severe injuries. The remaining students are feeling better, according to residents.