One of six juvenile offenders being held at Border Guard Outpost 3 in the Arakanese township of Buthidaung died four months ago, according to Burma’s State Counsellor’s Office.
The young man was among a group – six of whom were under the age of 16 – arrested for attacking and killing border guards in November.
The youngsters – aged 12 to 15 – were charged with murder alongside other offences.
“Mammud Rawphi (a.k.a. Mammud Arlaung) died on 2 February while receiving medical care for inflammation of the stomach,” said the government office statement on 5 June. “He was taken into Buthidaung hospital on 16 January and received medical treatment for recurring symptoms on 30 January. According to a medical certificate recording his death, Mammud Rawphi died of pericardial effusion which caused cardiac shock. ”
No explanation was offered as to why the announcement of the boy’s death was delayed.
The other five juvenile offenders are currently awaiting trial.
[related]
According to a report by Reuters in March, 13 children, some as young as 10, are among some 400 Rohingya Muslims detained on charges of consorting with insurgents. Burmese security forces launched a crackdown in October in the wake of deadly attacks at border guard posts by suspected Rohingya militants.
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Children among hundreds of Rohingya detained in Arakan crackdown