ND Burma
ND-Burma formed in 2004 in order to provide a way for Burma human rights organizations to collaborate on the human rights documentation process. The 13 ND-Burma member organizations seek to collectively use the truth of what communities in Burma have endured to advocate for justice for victims. ND-Burma trains local organizations in human rights documentation; coordinates members’ input into a common database using Martus, a secure open-source software; and engages in joint-advocacy campaigns.
Recent Posts
- Nearly 500 cases of sexual assault against women in Myanmar’s conflict
- Two women killed in airstrike on Oakkan village, Kawlin Township in northwest Myanmar
- Political prisoner dies due to lack of adequate medical care in Myanmar’s Dawei Prison
- Patterns of Military Oppression In 2023-2024
- Sexual abuse and violence worsens in Myanmar factories: activists
Junta orders monitoring of Rakhine State IDPs in Ayeyarwady Region
/in NewsThe junta has issued a directive to police and local administrators in wards and villages to monitor internally displaced persons (IDPs) entering Ayeyarwady Region from Rakhine State.
Administrators and police officers have been instructed to check where IDPs are staying and to conduct interrogations of IDPs and the homeowners of the homes they are staying in.
The junta directive also states that the arrival in Ayeyarwady Region of any IDPs from Rakhine State must be immediately reported to the authorities.
A source close to the police said: “Midnight guest lists are conducted at KTVs [karaoke bars], restaurants, and guest houses. Administrative bodies have been ordered to conduct thorough searches of their areas.”
“I’m sure that officials will arrest any suspicious IDPs. Everyone should be careful”, said a source close to the junta in Pathein Township.
In recent months heavy fighting between the Arakan Army (AA) and the junta in Rakhine State has caused people to flee their homes.
Mizzima
1,500 Myanmar refugees cross into Mizoram State, India in one week
/in NewsApproximately 1,500 Myanmar refugees entered the India’s Mizoram State between 22 and 29 July bringing the total number of Myanmar refugees in Mizoram to 35,125, according to All India Radio.
It said that the 1,500 new refugees had dispersed across five districts in Mizoram State.
Champhai District saw the highest influx, with 1,293 refugees arriving in small groups, rather than in one large group.
In addition, 108 of the newly arrived refugees went to Lawngtlai District, 77 went to Saiha District, 14 went to Serchhip District and one went to Aizawl District, according to a Mizoram State official quoted by All India Radio.
Currently, there are 15,505 Myanmar refugees in Champhai District. They are staying in 23 refugee camps and with family and friends.
The recent refugee surge is believed to be due to intense fighting between Chin revolutionary forces and junta troops in the area between Hakha and Thantlang townships in Chin State. it is not uncommon for Myanmar people to flee from Chin State to Mizoram when there is fighting and then return when the fighting subsides.
A senior member of an Indian based refugee organisation said: “We are unaware of the recent influx of refugees. Typically, refugees flee during attacks and return when the situation calms down, making it difficult to maintain a constant refugee list.”
Mizoram based youths and NGOs have warned Myanmar refugees in Mizoram State that they must respect local customs and follow local laws and regulations. These include being prohibited from starting a business and not becoming involved in drug trafficking.
Mizzima News
Former reporter for independent news outlet dies at Myanmar’s Insein Prison
/in NewsNay Linn Htike wrote articles for the Democratic Voice of Burma before the 2021 military coup.
A former reporter who was imprisoned under a law designed to punish comments that imply the military junta’s rule is illegitimate has died of cancer at an infamous prison near Yangon, a former coworker told Radio Free Asia.
Nay Linn Htike, a former freelance reporter for the independent Democratic Voice of Burma in eastern Bago region, died on July 29, according to the former coworker who requested anonymity for security reasons.
Several friends told RFA that Nay Linn Htike was suffering from oral cancer and was transferred from Daik-U Prison in a remote area of Bago region to Insein Prison to receive specialized medical care.
“He liked beetroot and developed ulcers in his mouth and was unable to receive adequate medical treatment,” one of the friends said.
Nay Linn Htike, who was in his 40s, published articles in the Democratic Voice of Burma before the February 2021 military coup.
The former coworker said Nay Linn Htike was arrested while campaigning against the military after the coup and was prosecuted under Section 505(a) of the penal code, which was added by junta authorities to crack down on anti-military speech.
He was also charged under Section 52(a) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, which was also amended by the junta after the coup to make it easier to prosecute critics. He received an eight-year sentence.
“He was detained while participating in anti-military activities, reportedly as an organizer,” the former coworker said.
The friend told RFA that he received messages from Nay Linn Htike just before he was transferred to Insein.
“He wanted to ensure that those connected to him were informed about his whereabouts and health conditions,” the friend said.
Another friend of Nay Linn Htike told RFA that his family were unable to visit him at either of the prisons because they have been avoiding junta authorities.
RFA was unable to contact anyone at the office of the deputy director general of the junta’s Prisons Department to inquire about Nay Linn Htike’s death.
RFA News
Myanmar schools caught in the crossfire: Myanmar Witness
/in NewsMyanmar Witness has just published an important report on the threat to schools in Myanmar, a report welcomed by the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office.
Documenting damage to Myanmar’s education system since the 2021 coup, Myanmar Witness has documented 174 distinct incidents of violence affecting educational institutions in Myanmar since February 2021. Schools have been damaged by airstrikes, weaponry, and fire, with some hit multiple times. These events have caused significant infrastructure damage, impacting children’s education in the short and long term.
Myanmar Witness’ analysis draws from two primary datasets: the primary dataset (113 incidents), and a drone-specific dataset (61 incidents). The data reveals a steady increase in reported incidents affecting schools since February 2021, peaking in March 2024. The trend is consistent with data from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (ACLED) on school infrastructure. Additional sources, including the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack (GCPEA) and United Nations Human Rights Council (UN HRC) analysis, also indicate a rise since the coup.
The Myanmar military is implicated in 90 of the 113 cases documented in the primary dataset, with just under half resulting in major damage or total destruction to school infrastructure. In contrast, People’s Defence Force (PDF) linked incidents generally caused less harm to educational infrastructure.
Sagaing Region has the highest number of incidents impacting school infrastructure (36 incidents, 33% of dataset), followed by Shan, Kayin and Kayah (11 incidents each, 10.1% of dataset, respectively) reflecting their status as major conflict zones. The drone specific dataset also indicates 36.8% of drone incidents occurred in Sagaing.
Myanmar Witness has assessed the varying levels of damage inflicted upon schools in their primary dataset, as well as examining damage to the surrounding areas (villages and towns).
A total of 31.5% of schools sustained major damage, potentially rendering the schools inoperable, while 9% were completely destroyed (primary dataset). The high percentage of incidents affecting surrounding areas suggests schools may not have been the main target. Thus, damage to schools could be the result of collateral damage during conflict.
Myanmar Witness has collected 64 reports of fatalities and 106 reports of injuries, though very few deaths have been verified due to challenges in verifying and geolocating user-generated content of the victims.
A number of these incidents may be linked to military use of school buildings, though Myanmar Witness cannot fully verify these claims. Regardless, these actions impact educational facilities, reducing access to learning materials and resources for students. Myanmar Witness recommends that international lawyers investigate these events to determine the status of these school buildings as protected sites under international law.
This report presents the available data on incidents affecting schools in Myanmar, highlights the frequency of such events in the context of the ongoing conflict, and seeks to hold those responsible to account. Myanmar Witness also compiled case studies that provide an insight into the trends uncovered during this investigation. Myanmar Witness says it will continue to monitor and report on incidents that impact on educational infrastructure in the country.
The UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) echoes the main theme of the Myanmar Witness report.
An FCDO spokesperson said: “The data is clear: schools are being destroyed, civilians seriously hurt and educational opportunities further suppressed in Myanmar.
“Schools are meant to be a place of safety and opportunity, not collateral in a conflict. ASEAN is critical to finding a path to peace in Myanmar. We again reiterate our call to all parties, particularly the Myanmar military, to refrain from airstrikes, safeguard civilians, and protect civilian infrastructure.”
The UK says it is committed to holding those responsible in Myanmar to account and has provided £3.5m to Myanmar Witness since 2021.
The UK has also provided £800,000 to the Independent Investigative Mechanism on Myanmar (IIMM) to ensure justice for victims of serious international crimes in Myanmar and hold the perpetrators to account.
The UK has helped support over 270,000 children access education, including 135,000 female students between June 2023 – November 2024.
Mizzima News
Human Rights Situation weekly update (July 15 to 21, 2024)
/in HR SituationHuman Rights Violations took place in States and Regions from July 15 to 21, 2024
Military Junta Troop launched airstrikes and dropped bombs in Mandalay Region, Tanintharyi Region, Shan State, Kachin State, and Mon State from July 15th to 21st. The Military Junta Navy attacked heavy artillery on the villages along the Ayeyarwady River in Singu Township, Mandalay Region. Political prisoners from Insein Prison, Yangon Region, were relocated to Thayawaddy Prison and Kyaikzagaw Prison, Bago Region.
Over 40 civilians died, and nearly 20 were injured by the Military’s heavy and light artillery attacks within a week. Over 30 civilians were arrested, and over 10 were killed by the arrest of the Military Junta within a week.
Infogram
Myanmar junta abducts, tortures and kills five civilians in Sagaing Region’s Tumaya Village
/in NewsMyanmar junta forces abducted and killed five residents of Tumaya Village in the western part of Mingin Township, Sagaing Region on the night of 16 July, according to the Student’s Revolutionary Force (SRF).
Among the deceased were two women, accused of providing information to the revolutionary forces.
The victims were identified as U Win Swe (50), U Tin Win (60), Ko Chit Ko (38), Ma Hla Lay Ngwe (38), and Ma Myo Myo Win (35). Another resident, Ko Too Naing, survived the tragic incident and is currently receiving medical aid from the SRF.
“They were killed after it was claimed that they had provided information to the revolutionary forces. When they were preparing to go to bed at their respective home, they were abducted by the Military Council at night,” said an SRF spokesperson.
Ko Too Naing, a survivor of the incident, recounted the brutality of the attack.
“They were mercilessly killed, with their bodies slashed repeatedly with knives. My wife was tortured and killed in front of me. I also endured severe torture, with numerous knife wounds. I was left for dead when they believed I had passed out,” he said.
The SRF reported that the bodies of those killed were cremated and buried on 17 July with the help of the defense forces and local residents.
Tumaya Village, home to approximately 100 households, is under the control of the Military Council Army and is near the Military Council Army stations in the neighbouring villages of Ingyintaung, Minyaw, and Thaegyikone. Most of the villagers are farmers, with some being members of the Pyu Saw Htee under the Military Council, who threaten to kill those not aligned with the military.
Mingin Township has 36 joint military camps of the Military Council Army and Pyu Saw Htee. The Military Council Army has raided and torched 37 villages in the township. Despite the recent violence, the military situation is currently calm, according to the Mingin-based People’s Defense Forces.
Mizzima News