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Weekly Update on the Situation of Human Rights in Myanmar: Post-Coup (November 15- 21)2021

November 22, 2021/in HR Situation

Military seizes body of Mogok youth killed by sniper

November 22, 2021/in News

The victim was shot in the Mandalay Region town during a clash between the military and local resistance forces The body of a young man who was shot dead by the military in Mogok last Thursday was taken away by his killers before his family could claim it, according to local sources. Wai Yan Aung, […]

Weekly Update on the Situation of Human Rights in Myanmar: Post-Coup (November 15- 21)2021

November 22, 2021/in HR Situation

Military seizes body of Mogok youth killed by sniper

November 22, 2021/in News

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Weekly Update on the Situation of Human Rights in Myanmar: Post-Coup (November 15- 21)2021

November 22, 2021/in HR Situation

After nearly six months in detention, detained US journalist Danny Fenster was released by the military junta through the help of negotiations between former US Diplomat, Bill Richardson under terms which remain undisclosed. Days before, on 12 November the same authorities who deported him, also sentenced Danny to 11 years in prison on violations of immigration and unlawful associations laws. The severity of the sentencing was called ‘baseless,’ ‘unjust,’ and ‘the harshest possible under the law,’ by Danny’s employer, Frontier Myanmar. His release comes after months of trials within the prison and endless calls for all journalists and political prisoners to be freed – none of whom should have ever been imprisoned to begin with.

Danny was taken away by security forces on 24 May while waiting to board a flight home when he was arrested based on false allegations that was working for Myanmar media outlet, Myanmar Now. His detainment and subsequent release highlights the injustices that the military junta has taken to suppress free speech and press freedom. Since his release, Danny has said he is committed to highlighting the plight of the dozens of remaining journalists behind bars and pledged to advocate for their freedom. They too are facing outlandish charges and face the possibility of long jail sentences.

While news of his release was overwhelmingly welcomed, it is nonetheless critical that Burmese press, human rights activists and civilians who have been unjustly imprisoned are also granted amnesties and negotiations on their behalf to ensure their freedom is granted.

The junta has taken significant steps to have a stronghold on media outlets across Myanmar as it attempts to eliminate an environment of the free press altogether. Since February, the media has been warned to not call the attempted coup as such. Journalists were arrested while documenting peaceful protests, which forced dozens into hiding. Many still remain on the wanted lists of the junta, and their families are targeted by being taken hostage. The worrying situation and declining media landscape has been compared globally as among the worst in the world.

It is with the utmost urgency that the stronghold on the press in Myanmar is relinquished and that all efforts are made to ensure the freedom of journalists unjustly behind bars. As a hallmark to any democratic society, free press is a guiding principle which the junta has outright discouraged and actively disbanded. The path the junta has taken is on a dangerous course which must be reversed, or further risk a deterioration of media values and even more dangerous space for journalists. It is therefore imperative that the country be under civilian control to restore the dignity and integrity of muted professions by the Myanmar military.

CHIN STATE

The military junta has been accused of raping two women in Chin State while raiding a village in Tedim township. A 27-year old victim was raped in front of her husband who was held at gunpoint, according to residents. She had only recently had a baby. Later that night, the woman’s pregnant sister in law was also raped. Thin Yu Mon, the director of the Chin Human Rights Organization, called the incident “disgusting and extremely inhumane.”

Offensives by the military junta and increased presence of soldiers are dangerous for civilians. Yanghee Lee of the Special Advisory Council for Myanmar and former United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar stated: “Junta forces in Chin State have plundered rice stocks, destroyed farms and killed livestock in an attempt to starve the local population. Across northwest Myanmar people are in urgent need of food and medical aid.”

KAREN STATE

An escalation in fighting in Karen State has local civilians worried for their safety. According to the Karen National Union (KNU), since the beginning of November, 32 Myanmar junta soldiers were killed, and 56 wounded in clashes. The KNU has stated that the increase in fighting is due to the ongoing expanding military operations of the military junta who are taking advantage of the coming dry season to transport their supply of food and ammunition.

According to a KNU news release, five armed clashes took place on 11th November between local KNLA soldiers and Burma Army Light Infantry Battalion 406, under the Military Operations Command 8, stationed in the Ma Htaw Village tract, Dwe Lo Township, Mutraw District.

KAYAH STATE

The military junta set fire to more than three dozen homes in a village in Pekon Township, southern Shan State. Officers from the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force noted that many homes were torched intentionally by the regime. Following the destruction of properties, local villagers fled once the regime set up their base in the area. In addition to homes, a church was also damaged by shelling.

A new flash report, “Access Denied,” released by Fortify Rights analyzed the atrocities being committed against innocent civilians by the junta in Kayah State, including the blocking of life-saving aid. According to accounts in the report, human rights violations have been escalating including torture, raids and scorching of villages. Aid workers had also been targeted as arbitrary arrests continued.

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Military seizes body of Mogok youth killed by sniper

November 22, 2021/in News

The victim was shot in the Mandalay Region town during a clash between the military and local resistance forces

The body of a young man who was shot dead by the military in Mogok last Thursday was taken away by his killers before his family could claim it, according to local sources.

Wai Yan Aung, 19, was hit by a sniper bullet during a clash between regime soldiers and the Padamya Myay People’s Defence Force (PDF) in Mogok’s Mintada ward, a resident of the town in Mandalay Region told Myanmar Now.

“He was just hanging out with some other kids. He heard some gunshots, and as he was running away, a sniper shot him in the chest,” said the Mogok local, who did not want to be named.

“He died on the way to the hospital and the military came to collect his body. His family didn’t even get to bury him,” the man added.

The incident occurred near the Singtaung Kyaung Pagoda Hill, in Mogok’s Mintada ward, at around 7pm on Thursday, the Padamya Myay PDF said in a statement released the next day.

The group said that it carried out a series of attacks around Mogok that night, killing an unspecified number of regime forces.

According to a member of the Padamya Myay PDF, Wai Yan Aung was killed during a clash at Mogok’s Electric Power Corporation (EPC) office.

“There were at least four casualties on the junta’s side during the attack on the EPC office in Mintada,” he added.

Also targeted were the town’s central police station, a jail in South Kachin ward, a police outpost in Kyauk Phar ward, and a military outpost in the Ngayantinn area.

“There were also a great number of casualties during the attack in Ngayantinn,” said the PDF member.

Almost all of the shops in Mogok were closed in the wake of the attacks, and security was tightened at all exits and entrances to the town, local residents told Myanmar Now.

According to the Padamya Myay PDF, a clash at the Ngayantinn outpost on November 14 left five junta soldiers dead. Another mine attack near the village of Nannwet in Mogok Township killed at least 15, the group said.

The military council has not released any statement regarding the situation in Mogok.

Myanmar Now 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 […]

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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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