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Weekly Update Human Rights Situation in Myanmar: Post-Coup (24 January – 30 January )2022

February 1, 2022/in Others

Villagers Found Slain After Myanmar Junta Raids

January 31, 2022/in News

At least 23 civilians were killed in junta raids since early January in Loikaw Township, Kayah State, according to a humanitarian group. Loikaw, the state capital, is largely deserted because of junta airstrikes in early January after clashes broke out between Myanmar’s regime and resistance groups. On Friday six civilians killed during junta raids were […]

Weekly Update Human Rights Situation in Myanmar: Post-Coup (24 January – 30 January )2022

February 1, 2022/in Others

Villagers Found Slain After Myanmar Junta Raids

January 31, 2022/in News

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Weekly Update Human Rights Situation in Myanmar: Post-Coup (24 January – 30 January )2022

February 1, 2022/in Others

As the one year of the coup approaches, Amnesty International declared “If the international community continues to drag its feet on the grave human rights violations including lethal violence targeted at protestors that we have seen in Myanmar this past year, many more people will suffer and this human rights crisis could worsen.” The international community has ignored these warnings for nearly 365 days. It is unacceptable that such inaction has followed the mounting calls from voices of activists and communities on the ground who have clearly communicated their needs, in addition to taking great risks to document the horrors of their situation. For too long, they have waited for action and for their lives to be protected. Indeed, the international system has failed them in all of their obligations to act with intention.

Ahead of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting with a minister from Cambodia (the current Association of Southeast Asian Nations Chair) and the UN special envoy for Myanmar Noeleen Heyzer, over 280 organizations including ND-Burma and several member organizations, called for the UNSC to address the deteriorating humanitarian situation and take urgent steps to protect civilian during this time of crisis. Human Rights Watch also called on the UNSC to ‘abandon their timid approach to their Myanmar military’s mounting atrocities and replace mealy-mouthed statements with tough action.’ These are all reasonable requests with overwhelming evidence of the junta’s crimes against humanity and war crimes which warrant immediate action.

As of 31 December 2020, there were 980 000 refugees and asylum-seekers from Myanmar in neighbouring countries. Between January 2020 and December 2021, over 775 000 people were internally displaced within Myanmar. This significant growth in displacement speaks to the harrowing violence being deployed by state-backed forces. The Myanmar Army is acting with lawlessness emboldened by impunity due to the lack of consequences they have faced. However, it cannot be denied that their onslaught of grave atrocities has not forced civilians to submit to their dictatorship and authoritarianism. By the regime’s own account – they are failing in their offensives and the growing number of Tatmadaw defections speaks to fragments within the junta itself.

KACHIN STATE

The families and friends of two volunteer Kachin teachers who were killed seven years ago by the military junta are still waiting for justice. Maran Lu Ra and Tangbau Hkawn Nan Tsin were volunteering with the Kachin Baptist Convention when they were raped and stabbed to death in January 2015. The Myanmar Army destroyed evidence of their crime and there has yet to be any accountability for the young women. Since their death, dozens of civilians in Kachin State have been killed by the military junta, especially since the attempted coup. The sense of solidarity across Kachin State is strong with commitments to ‘defeat the military dictatorship.’

KAREN STATE

Fighting in Karen State has forced thousands of people to flee. The Myanmar junta is planning to further increase their offensives against Karen armed opposition groups, making the situation for internally displaced people even more uncertain. Thailand’s Prime Minister, Prayut Chan-o-cha, told the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Burma, Noeleen Heyzer, on January 17, 2022 that displaced villagers would not be pushed back. However, in stark contrast to these comments, there are reports that displaced people are being pressured by Thai authorities to return to Karen State. This is increasingly worrisome as fighting in Lay Kay Kaw has taken place steadily for about one month. The one peaceful town has now become a battlefield. Reassurances for safety for those who have returned have not been fulfilled. On 3 January, artillery shelling killed a woman and injured three others who returned to Palu Lay village. IDPs are in desperate need of medicine, food and adequate shelter. Karen civil society organizations have largely filled the gaps in the provision of these materials but more support is needed.

On 27 January, the Karen Human Rights Group reported that a landmine planted by LIB #285 at K’Wer Village, Lermulah Township killed a mother and her six year old son.

KAYAH (KARENNI) STATE

Civilians in Kayah (Karenni) State have been deprived of their humanity as unrelenting fighting makes the future more uncertain for civilians. The crimes perpetrated in Kayah (Karenni) State have devastated livelihoods. Details of the Christmas Eve massacre in particular in which the junta burned alive several dozen civilians attempting to flee violence continue to emerge. The victims included 26 males and five females. Family members have recounted endless calls that went unanswered to the victims because they were caught in the junta’s merciless attack.

Ethnic Revolution Organizations are among those who have called on the international community and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for a no-fly zone against the military junta, and to take greater steps to ensure civilian safety zones. This includes the Karenni National Progressive Party. Civilians have been targeted at IDP camps, as was the case when three people were killed and seven injured during an airstrike by the junta launched at a refugee camp in eastern Kayah (Karenni) State. Karenni police officers have also called for the dictatorship to be dismantled and have demanded justice for victims by ensuring the regime is put on trial at the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity.

Worse yet – the bodies of six people, including women and children, were found mutilated in a septic well. The victims include three 17 year old boys and a 16 year old boy. A 63 old woman was also found with her 23 year son with evidence of torture on their bodies including bullet and stab wounds.

Villagers Found Slain After Myanmar Junta Raids

January 31, 2022/in News

At least 23 civilians were killed in junta raids since early January in Loikaw Township, Kayah State, according to a humanitarian group.

Loikaw, the state capital, is largely deserted because of junta airstrikes in early January after clashes broke out between Myanmar’s regime and resistance groups.

On Friday six civilians killed during junta raids were found in Yeyo village and one was found in Bado village.

The charred bodies of a mother and her son were found in Htungungantha village on Thursday, according to sources.

*A dead civilian in Bado village, Loikaw. / CJ*

In Yeyo village, four of the six victims were teenagers dumped in a septic tank. Some of the victims’ hands were tied and they had been shot, according to villagers.

A member of the Karenni Democratic Front said: “They were trapped in the village when junta soldiers arrived. Some of them had their hands tied. We can confirm that they were unarmed civilians.”

The victim from Bado appeared to have been tortured in a bathroom, dragged to a pit and shot.

*Empty bullet cases in Bado village. / CJ*

A resident said: “Junta troops on January 24-25 were talking about conducting clearance operations. We are afraid we will find many more bodies.”

Thousands have been displaced in Loikaw Township during January.

At least 23 bodies have been found in the township. “The bodies were badly disfigured. They were being eaten by dogs. They might have been killed four days ago,” said a charity worker.

The regime denied killing any civilians in Loikaw, saying its troops only shot back at “terrorists”. It said it used helicopters because resistance fighters were using civilians as human shields.

On January 16, regime aircraft attacked displacement camps in Hpruso and Demoso townships, killing three civilians including, a seven-year-old girl and three health workers.

“Junta troops are still deployed in Loikaw town. Many houses were damaged or burned by artillery strikes and air raids. They are targeting civilians,” said a KDF member.

More than 30 civilians were killed and burned in vehicles in Hpruso Township in December.

Irrawaddy News

Spring Revolution

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 […]
Human Rights Situation weekly update (September 8 to 14, 2024)September 20, 2024 - 2:30 pm
Human Rights Violations took place in States and Regions from Sep 8 to 14, 2024 Military Junta Troop launched airstrikes and dropped bombs in the Magway Region, Shan State, Kachin State, and Rakhine State from September 8th to 14th. Military Junta arrested the civilians as human shields from Mindon Township, Magway Region, and Salingyi Township, […]
Human Rights Situation weekly update (September 1 to 7, 2024)September 13, 2024 - 5:08 pm
Human Rights Violations took place in States and Regions from Sep 1 to 7, 2024 Military Junta Troop launched airstrikes and dropped bombs in the Sagaing Region, Mandalay Region, Magway Region, and Shan State from September 1st to 7th. The Military Junta threatened that they would launch airstrikes on the townships which they lost. The […]

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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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