3 headmistresses killed, 6 injured since start of school year; more than 40 teachers killed, 20 injured since military takeover

3 headmistresses killed, 6 injured since start of school year; more than 40 teachers killed, 20 injured since military takeover
Photo shows the scene of the Namkhio Township Education Officer's Office after it had been attacked with a bomb. (Photo-CJ)
Photo shows the scene of the Namkhio Township Education Officer's Office after it had been attacked with a bomb. (Photo-CJ)
Published 12 June 2022
News Crew

Since the military takeover of February 1, 2021 to May 27, 2022, more than 40 teachers have been assassinated, 14 have sustained injuries, and 11 have gone missing in Sagaing Region alone. 

Most of the assassinations of teachers have taken place in Sagaing Region in which the number stands at 18. This is followed by 11 assassinations in Magway Region, 7 in Mandalay Region, 2 in Yangon Region, 1 in Bago Region, and 1 in Mon Region, according to the figures released by the State Administrative Council.

In addition, of the 14 teachers who were assassination targets but were not killed, 4 are from Sagaing Region, 4 from Bago Region, 4 from Magway Region, and 2 from Yangon Region.

Since the start of this academic school year (2022-2023), three headmistresses have been killed while six have sustained injuries. The academic school year restarted on June 2.

Some teachers joined the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) after the military takeover while other did not. Recently, teachers and educators who did not join the CDM have been killed after being labeled as alleged military informants (dalans).

Education staff and township education officers have also been killed.

In addition, schools and education offices have also been set on fire and/or been destroyed by mine blasts.

After an official from the NUG issued apparently threatening messages against non-CDM teachers and students since 2021-2022 academic year, teachers’ assassinations and arsons of schools have become more widespread.

The National Unity Government (NUG) Department of Education and Human Rights issued a statement on June 3rd, 2022 urging the continued boycott of the ruling military’s school openings through the provision of online/on-ground schools, including home-based education (HBL) programs and other interim education services.

The statement also mentions that SAC must take full responsibility for students’ safety and security. Moreover, the statement by the NUG condemns attacks on schools by any group or side.

Like the murder of education staff, some healthcare staff have also been killed. The medical superintendent from Kutkai People’s Hospital in Kutkai Township, Muse District, northern Shan State, was shot dead at point-blank range by a group of armed men on her way back home after administering Covid-19 vaccinations at about 7pm on December 14, 2021.

The doctor had served at the hospital for nearly 20 years. Reportedly, she did not join the CDM but continued serving at her hospital though others were closed in Muse District after February last year. She also used to often tell her workmates and health staff to return to work. 

In September 2021, a senior female nurse from Parami Clinic in Hlinethayar (East) Township, Yangon Region, was murdered. A member of the free healthcare management committee whose office is opened in the missionary area of Popa Wadi Village, Ye Township, was shot and killed by an unidentified gunman in February 2021.

In another case in Minkin Township, Sagaing Region, about 30 local PDF members arrived at Kyway Station Hospital in Kyway Village at 10.5 am on March 16, and took a nurse and her husband from the staff housing and two land and hospital building donors to a hospital ward. They were then stabbed to death after the nurse had been accused of not joining the CDM and others of being informants.

A 47-year-old midwife from the Lin Yin Village’s rural healthcare centre in Sagaing Township was taken away by a 20-strong PDF arriving in a light truck on June 3 this year. Her house was destroyed, she was taken to a roadside about four miles east of the village and stabbed to death.

Apart from those killings, some brigades and management committees under the Karen National Union (KNU) and Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) as well as local CDF and PDF members have warned in their controlled areas that those civil servants who are not joining the CDM are to leave there.

Even massacres have been reported in Sagaing Region involving not only health and education staff but also civilians after being accused of being military informers. 

In Myinmu and Chaung-U townships, 16 men and seven women were killed in late April this year.

According to the news released by the SAC, around 80 local PDF members entered Padathtein Village, Myinmu Township, around 3pm on April 30, firing their guns. Fifteen villagers were tied up and taken to the village cemetery after being accused of being informants. Of them, eight men and two women were gunned down and torched. Five other women were released.

On the morning of May 1 in Chaung-U Township also, 13 people from Kinmontaw Village were taken by PDF members to a creek near Ngalontin Village after being accused of being informers. They were then shot dead and thrown into the creek, the SAC reported. 

On March 26 this year U Than Htay, chairman of the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), said 1,327 party members and supporters had been killed after facing such accusations of being military informants.

Among those murders, the killing of U Nay Myo Aung, a former member of regional parliament representing the USDP was well-known. He was shot dead while sitting at a shop of the Botahtaung Pagoda market in Yangon on June 10, 2021.

On July 14 also, another USDP’s ex-parliamentary candidate U Win Naing was murdered by the road leading to his native village of Pannyo in Myaung Township, Sagaing Region.

Moreover, the Bilin Township USDP chairman was shot and killed by two unidentified men arriving on a motorbike while he and his wife were going to his planation on May 27.

There have been killings of members of other parties. A parliamentary candidate from People’s Pioneer Party was shot dead in June 1, 2021. At that time he was serving as a member of Hlinethayar Township Administration Council. 

A 70-year-old chairman of Kayah State National Democratic Front was stabbed to death by four men at his home on August 13.

Not only service personnel, but also war veterans, pensioners, community administrative officials and monks are being murdered after being accused of being military informants.

From February 1, 2021 to May 12, 2022, 43 monks were killed, seven others injured and five others went missing. Among the deaths, most were from Sagaing Region.

The SAC reported that 18 monks were killed in Sagaing Region, two in Bago Region, 11 in Magway Region, five in Mandalay Region, one each in Ayeyawady Region and Kachin, Chin, and Shan states and four in Mon State. 

Some local PDFs also claimed responsibility for some killings.

The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) announced that 1924 people were shot and killed by security forces from February 1 last year to June 9 this year.

According to a data gathered and released by ISP Myanmar on May 12, at least 5,646 civilians were killed since the military takeover till May 10 this year. The number was based on all information sources released by AAPP, SAC and USDP. 

Just recently on June 8 this year, U Myo Min Htut, a staff member from the World Health Organization (WHO) Myanmar shot dead. A statement by the People’s Defense Organization-Mawlamyine reportedly claimed responsibility. 

The statement claims that U Myo Min Htut, a military informant and a relative of Secretary of the State Administrative Council (SAC) Lieutenant General Aung Lin Dwe, was shot dead near Than Lwin Garden Road on the evening of June 8. U Myo Min Htut was shot dead because he took the lead in inspecting guest lists in and around Myaynigone and in Mawlamyine and had close contacts with police majors. Additionally, he also threatened and coerced family members of government staff who are involved in CDM.

Mr. Ramanathan Balakrishnan, the United Nations Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator ad interim, released a statement earlier today condemning the killing of the UN staff.