Latest news with #ChoHtunAung
The Star
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Child among 16 held in killing probe
THE military has arrested a six-year-old child as part of a group blamed for the daytime killing of a retired military officer and diplomat last month, a junta-run newspaper reported. Cho Htun Aung, 68, a retired brigadier general who also served as an ambassador, was shot dead in Myanmar's commercial capital of Yangon on May 22, in one of the highest profile assassinations in a country in the throes of a widening civil war. 'A total of 16 offenders – 13 males and three females – were arrested,' the Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper reported yesterday. In an accompanying graphic, the newspaper carried the image of the six-year-old, identified as the daughter of the alleged assassin. Her face was blurred in an online version of the newspaper seen by Reuters, but visible in other social media posts made by junta authorities. A junta spokesperson did not respond to calls seeking comment. Golden Valley Warriors, an anti-junta insurgent group, said they killed the retired general because of his continued support for military operations, including attacks on civilians, according to a May 22 statement. The junta claims the group is backed by the National Unity Government – a shadow government comprising of remnants of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi's ousted administration that is battling the military – and paid an assassin some 200,000 Myanmar kyat (RM400) for a killing, the state newspaper reported. NUG spokesperson Nay Phone Latt denied the shadow government had made any such payments. 'It is not true that we are paying people to kill other people'. Myanmar has been in turmoil since the military seized power in a 2021 coup, overthrowing the elected government and triggering widespread protests. The junta's violent crackdown on dissent sparked an unprecedented nationwide uprising. A collection of established ethnic armies and new armed groups have wrested away swathes of territory from the well-armed military, and guerrilla-style fighting has erupted even in urban areas like Yangon. — Reuters
Roya News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Roya News
Myanmar junta arrests six-year-old girl over general's assassination
Myanmar's military regime arrested a six-year-old girl in connection with the assassination of a retired brigadier general, who was also a former diplomat, Reuters reported. The child, identified as the daughter of the alleged gunman, was among 16 people detained by authorities following the May 22 shooting of 68-year-old Cho Htun Aung in Yangon, Myanmar's largest city. The Global New Light of Myanmar, a junta-controlled publication, included a blurred image of the girl in its Friday edition. However, unredacted photos have since circulated widely on social media via pro-junta accounts. The military accused the group of being 'terrorists' and claimed the attack was coordinated by anti-regime insurgents. It did not explain why the six-year-old was among those arrested. Calls to junta spokespersons for clarification went unanswered. Cho Htun Aung was ambushed and killed in broad daylight last month. A statement from the Golden Valley Warriors, a resistance group, said they carried out the operation in retaliation for the retired general's alleged support of military offensives, including those that targeted civilians. The junta has blamed the shadow civilian administration, known as the National Unity Government (NUG), for backing the assassination and claimed a payment of 200,000 Myanmar Kyat (USD 95) was made to the perpetrator. NUG spokesperson Nay Phone Latt strongly rejected the allegation. 'It is not true that we are paying people to kill other people,' he told Reuters. Myanmar has been engulfed in chaos since the February 2021 coup that ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. The military's violent suppression of protests sparked a broad-based resistance movement. Armed ethnic groups and newly formed civilian militias have seized control of vast territories, and violence has spread from rural battlegrounds to cities like Yangon. According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), more than 29,000 people have been detained by the junta since the coup, including over 600 children and more than 6,000 women. The AAPP has also documented over 6,700 civilian deaths during this period, including 825 children.
The Sun
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Myanmar junta arrests six-year-old over general's killing
MYANMAR'S military has arrested a six-year-old child as part of a group it labelled 'terrorists' for the daytime killing of a retired military officer and diplomat last month, a junta-run newspaper reported on Friday. Cho Htun Aung, 68, a retired brigadier general who also served as an ambassador, was shot dead in Myanmar's commercial capital of Yangon on May 22, in one of the highest profile assassinations in a country in the throes of a widening civil war. Myanmar has been in turmoil since the military seized power in a February 2021 coup, overthrowing an elected government led by Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and triggering widespread protests. The junta's violent crackdown on dissent sparked an unprecedented nationwide uprising. A collection of established ethnic armies and new armed groups have wrested away swathes of territory from the well-armed military, and guerrilla-style fighting has erupted even in urban areas like Yangon. 'A total of 16 offenders - 13 males and three females - were arrested,' the Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper reported. In an accompanying graphic, the newspaper carried the image of the six-year-old child, identified as the daughter of the alleged assassin. Her face was blurred in an online version of the newspaper seen by Reuters, but visible in other social media posts made by junta authorities. A junta spokesman did not respond to calls seeking comment. Golden Valley Warriors, an anti-junta insurgent group, said they killed the retired general because of his continued support for military operations, including attacks on civilians, according to a May 22 statement. The junta claims the group is backed by the National Unity Government - a shadow government comprising of remnants of Suu Kyu's ousted administration that is battling the military - and paid an assassin some 200,000 Myanmar Kyat ($95.52) for a killing, the state newspaper reported. NUG spokesperson Nay Phone Latt denied the shadow government had made any such payments. 'It is not true that we are paying people to kill other people,' he told Reuters. Since the coup, Myanmar's junta has arrested over 29,000 people, including more than 6,000 women and 600 children, according to the Assistance Association of Political Prisoners, an activist group. Fatalities among civilians and pro-democracy activists verified by AAPP during this period amount to more than 6,700, including 1,646 women and 825 children. Myanmar's junta has said it does not target civilians and its operations are in response to attacks by 'terrorists' for maintaining peace and stability in the country. ($1 = 2,093.7000 kyat)
The Sun
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Six-year-old girl among Myanmar group arrested for killing retired general
MYANMAR'S military has arrested a six-year-old child as part of a group it labelled 'terrorists' for the daytime killing of a retired military officer and diplomat last month, a junta-run newspaper reported on Friday. Cho Htun Aung, 68, a retired brigadier general who also served as an ambassador, was shot dead in Myanmar's commercial capital of Yangon on May 22, in one of the highest profile assassinations in a country in the throes of a widening civil war. Myanmar has been in turmoil since the military seized power in a February 2021 coup, overthrowing an elected government led by Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and triggering widespread protests. The junta's violent crackdown on dissent sparked an unprecedented nationwide uprising. A collection of established ethnic armies and new armed groups have wrested away swathes of territory from the well-armed military, and guerrilla-style fighting has erupted even in urban areas like Yangon. 'A total of 16 offenders - 13 males and three females - were arrested,' the Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper reported. In an accompanying graphic, the newspaper carried the image of the six-year-old child, identified as the daughter of the alleged assassin. Her face was blurred in an online version of the newspaper seen by Reuters, but visible in other social media posts made by junta authorities. A junta spokesman did not respond to calls seeking comment. Golden Valley Warriors, an anti-junta insurgent group, said they killed the retired general because of his continued support for military operations, including attacks on civilians, according to a May 22 statement. The junta claims the group is backed by the National Unity Government - a shadow government comprising of remnants of Suu Kyu's ousted administration that is battling the military - and paid an assassin some 200,000 Myanmar Kyat ($95.52) for a killing, the state newspaper reported. NUG spokesperson Nay Phone Latt denied the shadow government had made any such payments. 'It is not true that we are paying people to kill other people,' he told Reuters. Since the coup, Myanmar's junta has arrested over 29,000 people, including more than 6,000 women and 600 children, according to the Assistance Association of Political Prisoners, an activist group. Fatalities among civilians and pro-democracy activists verified by AAPP during this period amount to more than 6,700, including 1,646 women and 825 children. Myanmar's junta has said it does not target civilians and its operations are in response to attacks by 'terrorists' for maintaining peace and stability in the country. ($1 = 2,093.7000 kyat)
RNZ News
2 days ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
Six-year-old girl among Myanmar group arrested for killing retired general
Protesters at Parliament last year against Myanmar's military which seized power of the country in a 2021 coup. Now a child is among a group arrested for a high profile assassination. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver By Reuters Myanmar's military has arrested a 6-year-old child as part of a group it labelled "terrorists" for the daytime killing of a retired military officer and diplomat last month, a junta-run newspaper has reported. Cho Htun Aung, 68, a retired brigadier general who also served as an ambassador, was shot dead in Myanmar's commercial capital of Yangon on 22 May, in one of the highest profile assassinations in a country in the throes of a widening civil war. Myanmar has been in turmoil since the military seized power in a February 2021 coup, overthrowing an elected government led by Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and triggering widespread protests. The junta's violent crackdown on dissent sparked an unprecedented nationwide uprising. A collection of established ethnic armies and new armed groups have wrested away swathes of territory from the well-armed military, and guerrilla-style fighting has erupted even in urban areas like Yangon. "A total of 16 offenders - 13 males and three females - were arrested," the Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper reported. In an accompanying graphic, the newspaper carried the image of the 6-year-old child, identified as the daughter of the alleged assassin. Her face was blurred in an online version of the newspaper seen by Reuters, but visible in other social media posts made by junta authorities. A junta spokesman did not respond to calls seeking comment. Golden Valley Warriors, an anti-junta insurgent group, said they killed the retired general because of his continued support for military operations, including attacks on civilians, according to a 22 May statement. The junta claims the group is backed by the National Unity Government - a shadow government comprising remnants of Suu Kyu's ousted administration that is battling the military - and paid an assassin some 200,000 Myanmar Kyat (NZD$157) for a killing, the state newspaper reported. NUG spokesperson Nay Phone Latt denied the shadow government had made any such payments. "It is not true that we are paying people to kill other people," he told Reuters. Since the coup, Myanmar's junta has arrested over 29,000 people, including more than 6000 women and 600 children, according to the Assistance Association of Political Prisoners, an activist group. Fatalities among civilians and pro-democracy activists verified by AAPP during this period amount to more than 6700, including 1646 women and 825 children. Myanmar's junta has said it does not target civilians and its operations are in response to attacks by "terrorists" for maintaining peace and stability in the country. - Reuters
