The young girl was killed in her home during a military raid, according to the Advocacy Group for Political Prisoners (AAPP) and the Reuters news agency.
Citing relatives, local media Myanmar Now reported that the girl, named Khin Myo Chit, was shot while sitting on her father’s lap after security forces kicked the door of the family home. The soldiers asked the father if the whole family was present in the house – when the father said yes, they accused him of lying and shot him, hitting the girl, Myanmar Now reported, quoting the sister the greater the victim.
Despite the dangers, tens of thousands of people across the country continue to protest and take part in a civil disobedience movement. On Wednesday, protesters called for a “silent strike” with businesses and shops closing and people staying in their homes in order to close entire cities.
Photos in the local press showed empty streets and deserted roads across the country on Wednesday morning.
At least 275 people have been killed in the coup, according to AAPP, although activists say the death toll is likely to be much higher. More than 20 of these deaths are children, the humanitarian organization Save the Children said.
“We are horrified that children continue to be among the targets of these deadly attacks on peaceful protesters. The deaths of these children are particularly worrying, given that they were killed while at home, where they should have been protected from harm. “Save the children said in a statement on Tuesday. “The fact that so many children are killed almost daily shows a total ignorance of human life by the security forces.”
Following the death of a 15-year-old boy on Monday, also in Mandalay, according to Reuters and local news. The boy, who was an 8th grader, was one of three people shot dead in the city that day, AAPP reported.
“The fallen child was shot when he left the house to fill the water in front of the house,” AAPP said.
The Myanmar army has not yet officially commented on the death of the 7-year-old girl, but has repeatedly defended the security forces’ response to the protesters, saying they use minimal force.
On Tuesday, army spokesman Zaw Min Tun said in a televised press conference that he was “sorry” for losing the lives of citizens, but blamed the protesters for unrest and destruction of property.
“Which country would accept this kind of violent acts?” he said at a news conference in the capital, Naypyidaw. “We will act according to the law if the protest is peaceful. But we will use minimal force and minimum steps if there is violence.”
At least 2,812 people have been detained since the coup, according to AAPP. As of Tuesday, Save the Children said it had responded to 146 cases of child arrests or detentions, and at least 488 students are currently being held by security forces. Many people have been arbitrarily taken into night raids, and their families do not know where their loved ones are or what their condition is, the United Nations said.
On Wednesday, an unknown number of prisoners arrested during crackdowns on opponents of the coup were released from prison, Reuters reported, citing witnesses, lawyers and local media. Several buses full of prisoners could be seen coming out of the famous Insein prison in Yangon in the morning, although authorities did not immediately find out how many were released.
“All those released are those arrested because of the protests, as well as those arrested at night or those who went to buy something,” a member of a legal advisory group told Reuters.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has announced new sanctions against Myanmar Police Chief Than Hlaing and his Special Operations Bureau commander, Lieutenant General Aung Soe, and two military units long involved in US abuses. human rights in ethnic areas. Meanwhile, the EU has appointed 11 people associated with the coup and related violence.
“The junta cannot defeat the united people of Myanmar in a peaceful opposition. Desperate, it launches ruthless attacks to provoke a violent response to try to justify even more violence. It does not work. The world must respond by reducing access to money and weapons, “UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Myanmar Tom Tomorrow said on Saturday.
The military tried to justify its takeover by demanding the November 8, 2020 elections, which were decisively won by Suu Kyi’s party, the National League for Democracy, which was plagued by fraud. After the country’s electoral commission disputed this claim, the army took power and replaced the commission.
In addition to prosecuting four charges against Suu Kyi, which could lead to a sentence of years in prison, the junta accused her of bribery and corruption.
At Tuesday’s three-hour press conference, spokesman Zaw Min Tun presented details claiming to show how the NLD committed electoral fraud by inventing voters and creating hundreds or even thousands of additional ballots, according to Reuters.
In a video, a government official testified that Suu Kyi had taken bribes of money and gold. Former Yangon Chief Minister Phyo Min Thein said he had to give money to Suu Kyi “whenever needed” to get support for his work.
CNN cannot independently verify these allegations and has contacted Suu Kyi’s lawyer for comment. Khin Maung Zaw previously said that the allegations of corruption “are a complete fabrication”.
Chandler Thornton, Sarah Faidell and Akanksha Sharma of CNN contributed to the reporting.