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Authorities in Myanmar have announced the arrest of multiple people, including a six-year-old girl, in connection with the assassination of a retired army general.
Some shit you should know before you read: If you’re unaware, back on May 22, retired Brigadier General Cho Tun Aung was shot and killed outside his home in Mayangon Township, a residential area in Yangon, Myanmar’s largest city. According to state-run media outlet Global New Light of Myanmar, he was walking with his grandchild when two assassins approached on bicycles and opened fire, resulting in his death. Cho Tun Aung was a former ambassador to Cambodia and had also served as an instructor at Myanmar’s National Defence College, where he reportedly taught internal security and counterterrorism — a role that resistance groups argue made him complicit in the military’s campaign of violence following the 2021 coup. The Golden Valley Warriors, an anti-junta militia, claimed responsibility for the assassination, stating in a Facebook post that Cho was directly involved in shaping strategies used in military crackdowns during the country’s ongoing civil war.
What’s going on now: In a notable development, Myanmar’s military authorities have arrested 16 individuals across four regions in connection with the assassination of General Cho Tun Aung. The arrests, which took place between May 23 and May 29, include 13 men and three women, according to the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar. Among those detained is the alleged gunman, Myo Ko Ko, who reportedly used at least three aliases and was injured during the attack. Also arrested were his wife and their six-year-old daughter, Lin Latt Shwe, in the central city of Bagan.
Authorities have not clarified the legal basis for the child’s detention, prompting serious concerns from human rights observers. Another key detainee is the owner of a private hospital accused of treating Myo Ko Ko’s gunshot wound after the assassination.
State media claims that authorities recovered evidence connecting the group to both the planning and aftermath of the attack, although specific details on the evidence have not been disclosed.
The Golden Valley Warriors, the militant group that claimed responsibility for the assassination, have denied that any of the arrested individuals were part of their operation. In statements posted on social media, the group insists that the junta is detaining civilians and unrelated associates as a retaliatory tactic to intimidate the public. The group criticized the arrest of a child as especially egregious and accused the military of exploiting the incident for propaganda purposes.
