The Military Council arrested five children aged about 14 or 15 in Pyay Township in Bago Region at about 10:00 p.m. on 19 July, according to local reports.
All the children, who were in seventh grade were arrested for allegedly attending the independent, non-junta-controlled Kaung for You online school, according to locals.
Normally seventh-grade students are younger but these students' education had been suspended for two years due to COVID-19 and the coup.
“The children were arrested by the junta, I think they are 15 years old. The junta detained the children at Infantry Battalion (75). Their parents are worried as hell. We have no idea what they will do to the children. They were arrested for studying, I think this kind of thing only happens in our country [Myanmar]”, said a local resident who didn't want to reveal his identity.
Previously, on 13 July Kaung Theik Soe, Kaung for You Education headmaster, and other teachers were arrested in Shan State’s Aungban Township. Since then more than 30 teachers and students from Kaung for You have been arrested.
