Myanmar Junta Arrests Minors After General's Killing

Myanmar's military authorities have arrested 16 people, including a six-year-old girl—the daughter of the suspected gunman—and a teenage boy, following the assassination of retired Brigadier General and former ambassador Cho Tun Aung in Yangon on May 22. The detainees also include family members of the alleged assassin, doctors accused of treating an injured suspect, and several associates. The anti-junta Golden Valley Warriors claimed responsibility for the killing, citing the general's support for military operations against civilians. The junta labeled the group as 'terrorists' and accused the National Unity Government (NUG), a shadow administration formed by ousted lawmakers after the 2021 coup, of financing the assassination, a charge the NUG denies. The arrests, which have sparked outrage due to the inclusion of minors, highlight the junta's broad crackdown on opposition amid escalating violence. Targeted attacks and conflict have increasingly affected major cities like Yangon since the 2021 military coup.