Occupy schools, attack Myanmar | New Conflicts in the aftermath of the coup

In May, 103 schools and other educational facilities were attacked, new data from Save the Children reveals, amid concerns that the ongoing riots in the wake of the February 1 military coup could jeopardize student safety.

The children’s rights organization said improvised explosive devices and hand grenades were used in most of the attacks.

“Save the Children is a formidable attack that, in addition to endangering the lives of children, is endangering everything that is already deplorable in terms of children’s learning in Myanmar,” he said in a statement.

“Schools are a safe place for children to learn, to be free from attacks at all times. Attacks on schools involve a serious violation of children, and no compulsory schooling should be put in place.

The chronovirus pandemic has already wiped out Myanmar children for months at school, when army chief Min Aung Hlaing staged a coup on February 1, arresting elected Aung San Suu Kyi and senior members of his government.

Since then, thousands have taken to the streets in protest, and the military has used force to oppose those opposed to its rule. The Association of Political Prisoners Support says at least 860 people have been killed and nearly 5,000 people have been arrested.

In previous periods of military rule, generals closed universities, and since February 1, the armed forces have occupied dozens of schools and university campuses across the country. Thousands of teachers joined the movement of civil disobedience they have been removed from office.

While schools have been set on fire or bombed, it is still unclear who is behind the attacks. The military has blamed the anti-coup movement, but resistance fighters have told Myanmar’s independent media that the military is only aimed at them and will not harm civilians.

Save the Children told Al Jazeera that it did not have “reliable information” about those responsible.

UNICEF has also stated that “the number of explosions in schools, educational facilities and offices has increased” in recent weeks.

“Violence in or around schools is never acceptable,” the UN agency’s Myanmar office said in a statement on Facebook on June 3. “Schools and other educational facilities must be protected from conflict and unrest. Attacks on learning and education staff and the occupation of educational facilities are violations of children’s rights.”

Armed soldiers in schools

Children from government schools began returning to classrooms earlier this month, but many young people have been scared to attend.

“Last year I couldn’t go to school all year because of the virus. And this year I don’t dare go, “a 10-year-old girl from Magway County told the organization.” I want to go to school, but I’m scared. Although the school doors are closed, there are soldiers inside, and I’m afraid of soldiers. I’m scared while we’re at our school. that the bomb could explode. ‘

The Myanmar Teachers Federation has told The Irrawaddy Myanmar media that fewer than a million students have returned to school due to security concerns.

Images from the first day of school on social media showed armed soldiers at school gates, buses and even classrooms, apparently encouraging some young children to carry guns.

“We are also concerned when we go out of potential violence while the regime’s forces continue savage actions against civilians,” the mother of a primary school student told Irrawaddy, who expressed concern about the military’s presence. “How can we send our children to a place where they can see if anything has happened to them?”

Security forces have occupied at least 60 schools and university campuses since March, Save the Children said.

“Armed soldiers have no place in schools or other learning spaces,” the statement says. “Under no circumstances should children have any weapons. This highly irresponsible behavior by armed workers is unacceptable, endangers children and violates international rules for safe education. “

Students outside the school in Sittwe (Rakhine state capital) to start the new term on June 1 [Stringer/AFP]

Myanmar is a signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which states that all children have the right to a safe education.

Save the Children says the international community, governments and member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations should condemn the attacks and make safe and inclusive education a priority in the face of the Myanmar crisis.

“Children often bear the brunt of conflict and violence, and the plight of children in Myanmar right now could hardly be more urgent.” the group told Al Jazeera by email.