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UN probe finds evidence of ‘systematic torture’ in Myanmar

August 12, 2025/in News

Investigators name senior figures among those responsible for alleged abuses at detention facilities. United Nations investigators say they have gathered evidence of systematic torture in Myanmar’s detention facilities, identifying senior figures among those responsible. The Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM), set up in 2018 to examine potential breaches of international law, said on Tuesday […]

Karen National Union headquarters in Hpa-An District of Karen State ‘bombed 20 times’

August 12, 2025/in News

Twenty airstrikes were reportedly carried out on the Karen National Union (KNU) Brigade 7 headquarters in the state capital Hpa-An District on Sunday. The KNU headquarters is located on the Myanmar-Thailand border opposite Tha Song Yang District of Tak Province. A resident told DVB that they counted 25 airstrikes with some bombs remaining unexploded. Initial […]

UN probe finds evidence of ‘systematic torture’ in Myanmar

August 12, 2025/in News

Karen National Union headquarters in Hpa-An District of Karen State ‘bombed 20 times’

August 12, 2025/in News

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UN probe finds evidence of ‘systematic torture’ in Myanmar

August 12, 2025/in News

Investigators name senior figures among those responsible for alleged abuses at detention facilities.

United Nations investigators say they have gathered evidence of systematic torture in Myanmar’s detention facilities, identifying senior figures among those responsible.

The Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM), set up in 2018 to examine potential breaches of international law, said on Tuesday that detainees had endured beatings, electric shocks, strangulation and fingernail removal with pliers.

“We have uncovered significant evidence, including eyewitness testimony, showing systematic torture in Myanmar detention facilities,” Nicholas Koumjian, head of the mechanism, said in a statement accompanying its 16-page report.

The UN team said some prisoners died as a result of the torture.

It also documented the abuse of children, often detained unlawfully as proxies for their missing parents.

According to the report, the UN team has made more than two dozen formal requests for information and access to the country, all of which have gone unanswered. Myanmar’s military authorities did not respond to media requests for comment.

The military has repeatedly denied committing atrocities, saying it is maintaining peace and security while blaming “terrorists” for unrest.

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The findings cover a year that ended on June 30 and draw on information from more than 1,300 sources, including hundreds of witness accounts, forensic analysis, photographs and documents.

The IIMM said it identified high-ranking commanders among the perpetrators but declined to name them to avoid alerting those under investigation.

The report also found that both government forces and armed opposition groups had committed summary executions. Officials from neither side of Myanmar’s conflict were available to comment.

The latest turmoil in Myanmar began when a 2021 military coup ousted an elected civilian government, sparking a nationwide conflict. The UN estimates tens of thousands of people have been detained in efforts to crush dissent and bolster the military’s ranks.

Last month, the leader of the military government, Min Aung Hlaing, ended a four-year state of emergency and appointed himself acting president before planned elections.

The IIMM’s mandate covers abuses in Myanmar dating back to 2011, including the military’s 2017 campaign against the mostly Muslim Rohingya, which forced hundreds of thousands of members of the ethnic minority to flee to Bangladesh, and postcoup atrocities against multiple communities.

The IIMM is also assisting international legal proceedings, including cases in Britain. However, the report warned that budget cuts at the UN could undermine its work.

“These financial pressures threaten the Mechanism’s ability to sustain its critical work and to continue supporting international and national justice efforts,” it said.

Al Jazeera News

Karen National Union headquarters in Hpa-An District of Karen State ‘bombed 20 times’

August 12, 2025/in News

A resident told DVB that they counted 25 airstrikes with some bombs remaining unexploded. Initial reports said bombs landed on a hospital, and one civilian sustained minor injuries. No fatalities have been reported by the KNU.

A source in the KNU told DVB that an unknown number of residents fled across the Thaungyin (Moei) River into Thailand’s Tak Province to seek safety.

Thai media reported that the authorities are providing temporary shelter for residents from Karen State who have fled their homes due to airstrikes carried out by the Myanmar Air Force.

These strikes are taking place two days ahead of a planned gathering for Karen Martyrs’ Day, which commemorates the assassination of Karen leader Saw Ba U Gyi on Aug. 12, 1950.

Sources told DVB that the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), the armed wing of the KNU, and its allied resistance forces have been fighting regime forces over control of the Wawlay outpost in Myawaddy Township since July 3.

Only the Wawlay and Htithellel outposts remain under regime control in Karen State’s Myawaddy Township, which is located along the Myanmar-Thailand border 82 miles (131 km) east of Hpa-An.

The KNU stated that the regime launched Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), or drone, attacks against Brigade 7 on March 18 but reported no casualties.

DVB News

Spring Revolution

Civil Society Position Paper on ASEAN’s Goal of a Myanmar-Owned and -Led SolutionDecember 18, 2024 - 12:11 pm
Recommendations to ASEAN and Its Member States (1) Move beyond the 5PC to achieve a Myanmar people-led and people-centered solution to the crisis in Myanmar. ASEAN’s “Myanmar-owned and -led” approach must be backed by genuine political will that aligns with and supports the collective aspirations of the people of Myanmar. (2) Cease all pressure on […]
The Airstrikes after the journey to the China of the Junta Military LeaderDecember 10, 2024 - 1:28 pm
Operation 1027 was a coordinated military attack against the junta on October 27th, 2023. It was carried out by the Northern Brotherhood, which includes the Arakan Army, Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army. Several months later, the Three Brotherhood Alliance held three meetings to negotiate with China on January 11 […]
Human Rights Situation weekly update (September 15 to 21, 2024)September 27, 2024 - 8:26 am
Human Rights Violations took place in States and Regions from Sep 15 to 21, 2024 Military Junta Troop launched airstrikes and dropped bombs in Sagaing Region, Mandalay Region, Shan State, Chin State, Rakhine State, and Kachin State from September 15th to 21st. The Military Junta committed arresting, occupying the properties, threatening by using power, and […]

Multimedia

GenocideSeptember 2, 2025 - 9:42 am
Crimes Against HumanityJune 16, 2025 - 7:55 am
International Humanitarian Law Cartoon AnimatonApril 29, 2025 - 8:37 am
အတိတ်မှ ဆိုးရွားသည့် အကြီးအကျယ် လူ့အခွင့်အရေးချိုးဖောက်မှုများ ထပ်မံမဖြစ်ပွားစေရေးအ တွက် အာမခံခြင်း (Guarantees of non-recurrence)February 10, 2025 - 9:58 am

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.

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