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Weekly Analysis: Children Targeted in Ongoing Attacks by the Military Junta
July 14, 2025
Children face extreme vulnerabilities in conflict zones, and those living in Burma are no different. The deteriorating situation on the ground, especially in rural parts of the country, has created long-standing hardships for young people, depriving them of access to education and healthcare, and ultimately denying them a safe childhood. The Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM) has found that since the attempted coup, in targeted areas of Mon State, Karen State and the Tanintharyi Region, 75 children have been killed and 137 wounded.
Several cases documented over the last week continue to show a disturbing trend of children being deprived of their humanity. In a heartbreaking tragedy, four members of a family—including three innocent children—were killed on the evening of July 8, when a heavy artillery shell fired by junta troops struck near their small shelter in a rubber plantation close to Kawhlain Village. Their mother was critically injured.
According to local sources, the shelling was carried out by Light Infantry Battalion No. 282 based in Kalein Aung. The 120 mm shell landed near the family’s hut, where they had been living and working. The father, U Aye Khaing (50), and his three children—all under 11 years old—were killed on the spot. Their mother, Ma Win Pa Pa (38), suffered serious injuries and is being treated at a nearby clinic.
“They were just working people,” said a local woman from Yaphu New Village, still shaken by the incident. “They came from Ayeyarwaddy to earn a living by tapping rubber. There was no fighting; there was no reason for the military to fire. But they did. And now those children are gone.”
Local residents confirmed that there were no clashes in the area at the time of the attack. The shell fell during a quiet afternoon, far from any battlefront. This has become an all-too-common pattern—shells landing without warning in peaceful villages, with no accountability.
“There was no fighting at all that day,” the woman added. “The military just fires whenever they feel like it. Last week, two shells landed in Mile 60 village for no reason. No one knows when it will happen next.”
Padoh Eh Na, Secretary of the Karen National Union (KNU) in the Myeik-Dawei District, confirmed the absence of combat. “Yes, our troops are present in the area, but there was no engagement. The junta forces simply fired into civilian spaces. They don’t care who gets hurt.”
A commander from the Dawna Resistance Column 3, which monitors the Ye-Dawei highway, put it plainly: “Even if they suspect resistance fighters are around, that doesn’t justify bombing a home where children live. These were just kids. Their lives ended before they even had a chance to grow up. It’s beyond cruel.”
This is not an isolated incident. Last year in June, a similar artillery strike near Kalein Aung killed another family of four, including a toddler. The military’s use of indiscriminate shelling continues to claim the lives of the most vulnerable, especially children.
Overview of Main Cases
• Junta Using Multiple Tactics to Forcibly Conscript Youth in Dawei In Dawei, the military junta is intensifying efforts to forcibly conscript young people into military service through a range of aggressive tactics. Local residents report that junta forces—including police, soldiers, Pyu Saw Htee militia, ten-household leaders, and plainclothes informants—are conducting street patrols, house inspections, and guest list checks to identify and detain eligible youth.
• Local Man Shot and Killed in Ye Township A tragic shooting took place in San Pya village, Ye Township, Mon State, on the morning of June 25, 2025. According to local sources, at around 7:00 AM, two unidentified men arrived on a motorbike and fatally shot 67-year-old U Ah Nyar at his home. He sustained six gunshot wounds to his head and chest and died instantly.
“He was just a fruit vendor,” said a woman from the village who knew him. “That morning, two men came to buy durians, but the ones he had were already reserved. He refused to sell them, and shortly after, he was shot. It was terrifying.”
U Ah Nyar was originally from Naypyidaw and was a retired soldier who had served in the junta’s army.
• Three Residents Severely Injured by Landmine Explosions in Hpa-An On June 4th, a woman from Phar Taung village was severely wounded after stepping on a landmine while collecting seasonal fruits and vegetables in the forest. She sustained serious injuries to her arms and thighs.
Later in the month, on June 17th and 20th, two men from Well Pyan village, near Ka Ma Maung Town, were also injured when they stepped on landmines in a nearby forest. Both men lost their legs in the explosions.
“With the rainy season here, many villagers head into the forest to collect bamboo shoots, mushrooms, or firewood. These are daily survival activities. Sadly, they often step on hidden landmines, and some have had to undergo amputations. It’s heartbreaking. There are no landmines in the urban areas, but many are planted in zones where resistance groups are active or near military bases. This puts innocent villagers at constant risk,” explained a local resident.