Authorities in Myanmar have arrested 16 individuals—among them a six-year-old girl—in connection with the recent killing of retired military officer and former ambassador Cho Tun Aung, state media reported on Friday.
The 80-year-old former general, who once served as Myanmar’s envoy to Cambodia, was shot outside his residence in Yangon on May 22. A militant group known as the “Golden Valley Warriors” later claimed responsibility for the assassination.
The arrests, detailed by the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar, include 13 men and three women. Notably, the wife and young daughter of the primary suspect, Myo Ko Ko, were among those taken into custody. The publication did not clarify the reason behind the girl’s arrest or what charges, if any, she faces.
According to the report, Myo Ko Ko and an accomplice approached Cho Tun Aung’s home on bicycles and opened fire before escaping to a hideout. Authorities later tracked them down and apprehended their alleged support network.
Myanmar has been embroiled in civil conflict since the military seized power in a February 2021 coup, igniting a fierce resistance movement. While much of the violence remains concentrated in rural and border regions, the country’s biggest city, Yangon, has seen an uptick in targeted attacks against junta-linked individuals and institutions.
The military, despite facing battlefield losses in several regions, still retains air superiority with Russian-supplied aircraft and continues to receive diplomatic and strategic backing from China.
The inclusion of a child among the detainees has drawn attention and may spark international scrutiny, given the lack of clarity surrounding the charges. The military authorities have yet to comment further on the incident or the legal grounds for the child’s detention.
