ND Burma

Human Rights Situation weekly update (March 8 to 14, 2024)

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Human Rights Violations took place in States and Regions from Mar 8 to 14, 2024

Military Junta Troop launched airstrikes and dropped bombs in Sagaing Region, Magway Region, Tanintharyi Region, Shan State, Kayin State, and Rakhine State from March 8th to 14th. Internet Data and communication were cut off in Myawaddy, Kayin State. 3 elders from the Sagaing Region and Mandalay Region, died in the fire burning of Military Junta. The Military Started calling out the names and letters for Military Service in the Yangon Region and Naypyidaw.

Over 30 civilians died and over 70 were injured by the Military’s heavy and light artillery attacks within a week. 3 underaged children died and 4 were injured when the Military Junta committed abuses. After the Military Junta had arrested the Rohingyas and forced them to give the Military Service, 97 Rohingya people died.

ND Burma

Rescued From Execution, Fathers Weep For Their Sons in Myanmar

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Their hands were bound tightly behind their backs for the night. They heard they were going to be executed the next morning.

U Maung Khin Swe recalls a junta officer ordering his men to kill him and nine other civilians captured by retreating junta troops in Rakhine State’s Minbya Township for use as porters and human shields. He believes the officer was the commander.

They were in a forest.

He’s certain, however, that the mass execution was the second order. The first was to kill a cow and a buffalo that had been found. The animals were killed that evening for food; the civilians were to be killed the next morning.

U Maung Khin says he was among 10 porters still alive, after being captured by soldiers retreating from the junta’s 9th Central Military Training School in Minbya Township last month. About 20 civilians had been captured after the school – the last of the junta’s military strongholds in the township – was seized by the Arakan Army on Feb. 26.

As junta troops fled, they rounded up civilians to carry water and other necessities for them during their trek through forests. In total, about 20 were captured and detained. At least three were shot dead before the final night of captivity. What happened to the seven still missing is not yet known.

U Maung Khin Swe had been gathering bamboo in a forest around Sabar Htar village, his home, with his 16-year-old son, Nay Myo Chit, and his son-in-law – 33-year-old Kyaw Myo Hlaing – when they were captured by junta troops.

“We were forced to carry water for them. We were kicked when we slipped,” he says in a video released on Thursday by the Arakan Army. The video shows the testimony of two fathers who, along with their sons, were forced to be porters for junta troops in Rakhine State.

The fathers survived. They are enraged and bewildered.

“They shot my son and son-in-law dead while marching through the forest,” U Maung Khin Swe tells the camera. “I am very angry that they killed my sons. I want the Arakan Army to take severe action against them.”

U Maung Than Myint has a similar story. He and his 18-year-old son Kyaw Win were also grabbed by retreating soldiers while gathering bamboo in a forest.

“I couldn’t stand seeing my son being tied and beaten in front of me. I couldn’t do anything except cry,” he tells the camera.

Like U Maung Khin Swe, and their sons, he was beaten. They were also refused food and water. “We were not allowed to eat food and drink water even though we had to carry things for them,” U Maung Than Myint says. His son was shot dead in the forest, he recalls.

At about 4:50 a.m., as the captured porters waited, with their hands bound behind their backs, for sunrise and execution, soldiers from the Arakan Army attacked. They escaped while their captors were fighting to save their own lives.

In the battle, Arakan Army troops killed several regime fighters, including the lieutenant colonel commanding the fleeing unit.

“We would all have soon been killed by regime forces if we were not rescued by Arakan Army troops. We thank our Arakan Army,” U Maung Than Myint says in the video.

Irrawaddy News

ND Burma

UN seeking more than $850m for Rohingya refugees 

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The UN secured barely more than half the aid it requested last year for the million Rohingya people living in deteriorating conditions in Bangladeshi camps, of whom more than half are under 18

Geneva – The United Nations (UN) on Wednesday called for increased support for the many Rohingya refugees languishing in camps in Bangladesh, where funding shortfalls have left many without enough food or other aid.

In its annual response plan to the crisis, the United Nations appealed for $852.4 million to provide desperately needed assistance this year to the mostly Muslim Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh and their host communities.

Bangladesh is home to around a million members of the mostly stateless minority, many of whom fled a 2017 military crackdown in Myanmar, where the conflict on the ground has continued to escalate.

Some 95 percent of Rohingya households in Bangladesh are considered vulnerable and remain dependent on humanitarian assistance, the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) pointed out in a statement. 

“International solidarity with Bangladesh and refugee protection is needed more than ever as the conflict in Myanmar escalates,” it said.

Last year, the UN and its partners asked countries to provide $876 million to help those caught up in the Rohingya refugee crisis.

But in the end, only $440 million—barely half the requested amount—was provided.

With the humanitarian crisis largely out of the international spotlight, UNHCR warned that significant funding shortfalls in recent years had had “serious implications”.

Many of the refugees were struggling to meet their basic needs, it warned, insisting that “sustained assistance is critically and urgently needed”.

More than 75 percent of the refugee population receiving aid are women and children, it said, cautioning that they are facing “heightened risks of abuse, exploitation and gender-based violence”.

“More than half of the refugees in the camps are under 18, languishing amidst limited opportunities for education, skills-building and livelihoods,” it said.

The UN-led joint response plan to the crisis brings together 117 partners, nearly half of them Bangladeshi organisations.

It will aim to help around one million Rohingya refugees in the Cox’s Bazar camps and on the island of Bhasan Char, along with nearly 350,000 people from host communities.

The money will be used to fund food, shelter, health care, drinking water access, protection services, education and other assistance, the UN said.

Conditions in the overcrowded camps in Bangladesh, where lawlessness is rampant, have seen a growing number of Rohingya attempt dangerous and often deadly sea voyages headed for Malaysia and Indonesia.

There is, meanwhile, little progress towards repatriating the refugees to Myanmar, which is facing a UN genocide probe over the 2017 exodus.

And since then, the country’s military junta seized power in a 2021 coup that ousted Aung San Suu Kyi’s democratically elected government.

The military rule in Myanmar, which faces widespread armed resistance, has inflicted unbearable cruelty, UN rights chief Volker Turk warned earlier this month.

“The human rights situation in Myanmar has morphed into a never-ending nightmare, away from the spotlight of global politics,” he told the UN Human Rights Council.

Myanmar Now

ND Burma

Myanmar Junta Kills Three Mandalay Civilians

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At least three civilians have reportedly been killed in Myingyan Township, Mandalay Region, by Myanmar’s junta in retaliation for a resistance ambush which killed six soldiers.

On Monday morning, the Pakokku Urban Guerrilla Force from adjacent Magwe Region and other groups ambushed a junta vehicle at the entrance of Myingyan town, killing all six troops on board and seizing seven weapons and ammunition.

Regime forces later detained at least six truck drivers near the site.

On Monday junta forces raided at least five nearby villages and burned houses, displacing hundreds of residents, said Myingyan People’s Strike Committee, which has monitored the junta since the 2021 coup.

Two older women were burned to death in their homes in Thin Pyun and Pyoe Kan villages after being left in the villages, the committee said.

U Soe Tint, 70, was shot dead in Thin Pyun.

Anti-regime groups ambushed raiding troops on Thursday, killing some soldiers, a resident told The Irrawaddy on Thursday.

Residents flee their homes after junta raids on five villages in Myingyan Township this week. / CJ

“The regime forces had not retrieved the dead soldiers this afternoon,” the source said.

Myingyan District reports repeated resistance action with frequent ambushes and drone strikes on regime forces, including in Natogyi, Myingyan, Taungtha and Ngazun towns.

On Tuesday, Myingyan District Drone Strike Team said it and other groups conducted drone strikes on junta troops at Chaung Sone village in Taung Tha Township, killing seven troops and injuring others.

Troops reportedly used two hearses to retrieve the dead soldiers.

The Irrawaddy could not independently verify the reports.

Irrawaddy News

ND Burma

Human Rights Situation weekly update (March 1 to 7, 2024)

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Human Rights Violations took place in States and Regions from Mar 1 to 7, 2024

Military Junta Troop launched airstrikes and dropped bombs in Sagaing Region, Mandalay Region, Tanintharyi Region, Rakhine State, Shan State, and Kachin State from March 1st to 7th. Internet Data and communication were cut off in Kachin State and Sagaing Region. A political prisoner from Daik-U Prison in Bago Region died from the lack of medical treatment and care. 2 women from Magway Region, died by the rape of Military Junta. The military Junta called out and took the civilians from Naypyidaw to give Military Service and collected the lists in Yangon Region, Mandalay Region, Bago Region, and Kachin State and forced the civilians to comply with the Conscription Law.

Over 10 civilians died and almost 30 were injured by the Military’s heavy and light artillery attacks within a week. 3 underaged children were injured and 1 died when the Military Junta committed abuses. After the announcement of the Conscription Law, the Military Junta blackmailed and took money from the civilians by using various ways and authority.

ND Burma

NUG Critiques Thai Aid Corridor, Proposes Two-Track Process to Expand Myanmar Aid 

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Thailand is gearing up to launch a humanitarian corridor on its border to deliver aid to Myanmar people affected by armed conflict since the coup. The UN estimates that 18.6 million people need humanitarian assistance in Myanmar and more than 2.7 million people are now displaced nationwide.

Dr Win Myat Aye, minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management in Myanmar’s parallel National Unity Government (NUG), told The Irrawaddy that the NUG welcomes the Thai government’s aid initiative but was unhappy with its implementation. 

We don’t think it will be effective,” he said.

Aiming to ensure effective aid delivery, the NUG and anti-regime ethnic armed organizations have drafted a parallel humanitarian assistance proposal to be implemented alongside the initiative and submitted it to the Thai government. 

In this interview with the Irrawaddy, Dr Win Myat Aye discusses why Thailand’s initiative will not be effective in its current form; what the parallel humanitarian assistance proposal consists of, and how it could make a difference.

On Thai’s cross-border assistance initiative

“There are millions of people suffering from armed conflicts across the country, not only in border areas but also in central Myanmar. Humanitarian law calls for aid provision to anyone in need without discrimination. We welcome the cross-border assistance initiated by Thailand. But we are not very satisfied with the way it will be implemented. We don’t think it will be effective.

“Previously, humanitarian aid has been delivered through the AHA Center [ASEAN Coordinating Center for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management] as part of the Five-Point Consensus. The AHA Center is a humanitarian body covering the entire ASEAN bloc. International donors and ASEAN countries make contributions. Those donations [made for Myanmar] must reach suffering civilians in Myanmar. But the AHA Center has to deliver aid through the regime. Aid deliveries are controlled by the regime, so they are not effective in reaching the people in need. It has failed to implement [delivery of humanitarian assistance as required by] the Five-Point Consensus.

“Now, Thailand says it will use the AHA Center to implement its new initiative. This is like repeating a past mistake. There will not be significant improvements if aid is still delivered through the AHA Center. Firstly, when Thailand developed this initiative, it only consulted with the regime but not with the NUG and EROs [ethnic revolutionary organizations], which are sheltering many displaced people.

“Secondly, like previous humanitarian aid missions, the Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS) will be used to implement distribution in Myanmar. The Thai Red Cross Society is suitable for the process. When humanitarian supplies arrive in Myanmar, the MRCS will implement distribution. The MRCS has been under government control for successive administrations. It is now under the control of the regime, and the delivery therefore will not be effective. Aid can’t reach affected people in areas controlled by the NUG, People’s Defense Forces (PDFs) and EROs.

“The third point concerns the AHA Center. Previous efforts to deliver aid through the center failed. This time will be no different. Again, the AHA Center is primarily engaged in disaster management, and it has little experience in helping civilians affected by armed conflicts.

“Another issue concerns funding. The [Thai] initiative is small in scale and will only reach around 20,000 internally displaced people in three locations initially. It is funded only by the Thai Red Cross Society. But the term ‘cross-border assistance’ makes it sound like a huge project. The initiative was endorsed by the regime after consultation. So, this will allow the regime to claim credit at ASEAN, by saying that it enabled cross-border humanitarian assistance with help from Thailand. So, this will enable the regime to reap huge credit from a tiny project. We do not oppose this initiative. We are just suggesting that a supplementary or alternative or parallel mechanism is implemented alongside the initiative.”

On the parallel humanitarian assistance proposal

NUG Humanitarian Affairs Minister Dr Win Myat Aye

“Before the two-day seminar [on Myanmar at the Thai parliament last week], the NUG’s Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management and EROs met for three days and drafted a parallel humanitarian assistance proposal by unanimous decision.

“Our proposal aims to provide a parallel or supplementary mechanism to make humanitarian assistance delivery more effective. Our proposed mechanism will involve the Royal Thai Government, EROs and the NUG, as well as certain organizations that will implement distribution of aid instead of AHA Center and MRCS.

“As the aid will be delivered across the border, we have selected The Border Consortium (TBC), an international NGO that we believe can provide effective delivery. Our proposal says that we are willing to cooperate with TBC and other INGOs that can work effectively at the border. And we will work together with CBOs [community-based organizations] and CSOs [Civil Society Organizations] that have been operating on the ground over the past three years. In this way, aid will reach the affected people in areas controlled by EROs, NUG and PDFs. This is what we have suggested in our proposal.

“And regarding the funding, the Thai initiative is small in scale and will only benefit 20,000 people. But more than two million people badly need humanitarian assistance. Across the country, 18 to 19 million people have been affected [by conflict]. But those two million people have been hit hardest – displaced and made homeless. There is a huge gap between 20,000 and two million. So, there is a need to implement a supplementary mechanism. International donors are aware of the humanitarian situation in Myanmar and are waiting for the time to provide effective help. With Thailand launching this cross-border humanitarian initiative, which involves establishing a safe zone at the border, if a supplementary mechanism can be implemented, aid will reach the people who need it. If international donors participate, we won’t then need to worry about funding.

“Another issue concerns security. As the plan is being implemented by the Royal Thai Government, I hope it will facilitate the safe delivery of aid into the country from the border.”

Effectiveness of the parallel humanitarian assistance mechanism  

“We have presented the parallel humanitarian assistance proposal to the Thai government [via] the Prime Minister’s Office. It was explained to donors at the two-day seminar on Myanmar [in Bangkok last week] by the Karen National Union, on behalf of all the stakeholders, including the NUG and K3C [an alliance of the four ethnic armed organizations aligned with the NUG] and EROs. So, donor countries are now aware of the situation.

“We have already conducted an assessment of [Myanmar] people’s needs. Ethnic revolutionary organizations (EROs) and the NUG have conducted assessments in our respective areas. We can calculate the funding needed based on those assessments. We will explain the situation and solicit donors to supply aid through the Royal Thai Government. If they agree, we will select INGOs at the border. Then, through the selected INGOs, we will collaborate with experienced CBOs and CSOs in Myanmar that have been operating on the ground for the past three years. Aid would then be delivered safely across the border. If we can ensure that local humanitarian actors forward aid safely and people can receive it safely, this would be effective delivery.

“At the same time, aid delivered through the regime will reach people in areas it controls, so the needs of the people nationwide would be fulfilled. We are not opposing the initiative announced by the Thai government. We have only presented a plan for how humanitarian assistance can be delivered to reach a wider population. We will continue to negotiate with the Thai government for that.”

Irrawaddy News