Rights groups challenge Myanmar over teen's death, father's trial
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Yangon (dpa) - International rights groups urged the Myanmar government Thursday to drop criminal charges against an activist who accused the army of killing his teenage daughter.
Six organisations, including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and Fortify Rights, sent an open letter earlier this month to President Thein Sein, urging an investigation into14-year-old Ja Seng Ing's death, Fortify Rights said in a statement.
"The authorities should punish soldiers who commit crimes, not retaliate against individuals like (Ja Seng Ing's father) Brang Shawng who seek truth and justice," said Matthew Smith, executive director of Fortify Rights.
The military says Ja Seng Ing was killed by a mine belonging to the Kachin Independence Army, The Irrawadddy newspaper reported. Kachin groups say she was shot by soldiers during a military incursion into the area.
Prosecution was launched against Brang Shawng in March 2013, several months after he sent a letter to the Myanmar Human Rights Commission saying army soldiers shot and killed his daughter on September 13,2012."The human rights commission is duty-bound to address this injustice but has so far remained silent," Smith said.
