The young girl was killed during a military raid in her home, according to the advocacy group Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) and the news agency Reuters.
Referring to family members, Myanmar Now, reports the girl, named Khin Myo Chit, was shot while sitting in her father’s lap after security forces kicked down the door to the family’s home. Soldiers asked the father if everyone in the family was present. When the father said yes, they accused him of lying and shooting at him but beating the girl, Myanmar Now reported, quoting the victim’s older sister.
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, with the aim of closing down entire cities and towns.
Photos from local media showed empty streets and deserted roads across the country on Wednesday morning.
According to AAPP, at least 275 people have been killed since the coup, although activists say the death toll is likely to be much higher. More than 20 of the deaths are children, the humanitarian organization Save the Children said.
“We are appalled that children are still one of the targets of these fatal attacks on peaceful protesters. The deaths of these children are particularly concerned with the fact that they were allegedly killed while at home, where they should have been safe from harm,” “Save, the Children said in a statement on Tuesday. “The fact that so many children are killed almost daily shows a total disregard for human life by security forces.”
It follows the death of a 15-year-old boy Monday, also in Mandalay, according to Reuters and local news reports. The boy, who was a grade 8 student, was one of three people shot dead in the city that day, AAPP reported.
“The fallen child was shot when he wandered out of the house to fill the water in front of the house,” AAPP said.
Myanmar’s army has not yet officially commented on the death of the 7 – year – old girl, but has repeatedly defended the response of the security forces to the protesters, saying they use minimal force.
Military spokesman Zaw Min Tun told a television conference on Tuesday that he was “sorry” for the loss of life of civilians, but blamed the protesters for unrest and destruction of property.
“What country would accept this kind of violent acceptance?” he said at a news conference in the capital, Naypyidaw. “We will act according to law if the protest is peaceful. But we will use minimal violence and the least steps if there is violence.”
According to AAPP, at least 2,812 people have been detained since the coup. Save the Children said Tuesday it has responded to 146 cases of arrests or detention of children, and at least 488 students are currently being held by security forces. Many people have been arbitrarily taken during check-ins and their families do not know where their loved ones are or in what condition they are, the United Nations said.
Reuters reports on Wednesday a large, unknown number of prisoners were arrested during clashes with opponents of the coup, Reuters reported, citing witnesses, lawyers and local media. Several buses full of prisoners were able to drive out of Yangon’s infamous Insein Prison that morning, although there was no immediate word from the authorities on how many were released.
“All those released are those arrested for the protests, as well as arrests at night or those who wanted 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 Lt. Gen. Aung Soe, as well as two study units that have long been involved in human rights violations in ethnic areas. Meanwhile, the EU has identified 11 individuals linked to the coup and related violence.
“The junta cannot defeat the people of Myanmar in peaceful opposition. Desperately, it launches relentless attacks to provoke a violent response to try to justify even more violence. It does not work. The world must respond through their access to cut money and weapons, “UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Myanmar Tom Andrews said in a tweet on Saturday.
The military has tried to justify its takeover by claiming that the November 8, 2020 election, which was decidedly won by Suu Kyi’s party, the National League for Democracy, was damaged by fraud. After the country’s election commission disputed the claim, the army took over power and replaced the commission.
In addition to the charge against Suu Kyi, which could result in a prison sentence of years, the junta also accused her of bribery and corruption.
At Tuesday’s three-hour news conference, spokesman Zaw Min Tun presented details indicating that the NLD had committed electoral fraud by finding out voters and creating hundreds or even thousands of extra ballots, according to Reuters.
In one video, a government official testified that Suu Kyi allegedly took cash and gold bribes. Former Yangon Prime Minister Phyo Min Thein said he had to give money to Suu Kyi ‘when needed’ to get support for his work.
CNN could not independently verify these claims and contacted Suu Kyi’s lawyer for comment. Khin Maung Zaw had earlier said the allegations of corruption were a complete fabrication.
CNN’s Chandler Thornton, Sarah Faidell and Akanksha Sharma reported.