Two children are dead and three people wounded after Burma Army soldiers (BA) fired on a boat carrying ten grade 5 students and staff in Paletwa Township, southern Chin State.
Maung Ne Min Tun and Maung Aung Than Myat, both 12 years old, from Reemawa were killed in the attack on the boat, which was moored at a port in Namatar on the Kaladan River.
Maung Aung Lin Win, 12, suffered a gunshot wound to his back, Ma Khin Kyi Aung, 12, was shot in her leg and Padue, an educator, was shot in the right arm and suffered an injury to his right ear. They were all taken to Paletwa Public Hospital for treatment.
After fighting with the Arakan Army near Namatar on 1 August, the BA banned river travel in the area the following day.
The students have to travel by water to reach their primary school in Tonmawa.
The villages of Tonmawa and Reemawa are located on the west bank of the river, an hour’s boat ride from Paletwa town.