- Hits: 1662
Myanmar’s military junta continued to terrorize civilians throughout March 2025, even as a devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck the country. The disaster, which killed thousands and displaced tens of thousands more, was met not with aid but with obstruction: junta forces blocked humanitarian access, denied entry to earthquake affected opposition-held areas, and even launched fresh airstrikes on communities struggling to survive.
While pro-democracy forces declared ceasefires to facilitate relief efforts, the military pressed ahead with attacks in Sagaing, Bago, Magway, and Shan States. Junta air raids killed dozens of civilians and destroyed schools, homes, and religious buildings. Monasteries were bombed, clergy killed, and churches burned, part of a growing pattern of attacks on protected places and people.
- Hits: 816
Introduction
This report documents instances of hate speech, discriminatory expressions, and unjust criticism disseminated through social media, online platforms, and print media. It analyzes the nature, prevalence, and societal impact of hate speech observed throughout February.
This report aims to promote safer and more respectful communication while fostering greater social harmony in online spaces. By sharing knowledge on how to identify, respond to, and protect against hate speech, we hope to contribute to a more stable and inclusive society.
Research Methodology
As hate speech is a term that comes from emotion, there is a wide spectrum in defining it, not a specific one. BHRN, therefore, standardized the definition of hate speech for this report as follows. Hate speech in this report means aggressiveness and hatred against protected characteristics of a person or a group, blaming, discriminative expression, writing, gesture, or art expression of excoriation, dehumanization.
It means attacking someone’s faith, language, gender, sexual orientation, origin, ethnicity, skin color, race, belief, citizenship and physical appearance. The monitored hate speeches were categorized as (1) Criminalizing Hate Speech, (2) Abusive Hate Speech, (3) Dehumanizing Hate Speech, (4) Violence Inciting Hate Speech, (5) Threatening Hate Speech, and (6) Hate Speech that supports prejudicial actions inspired by hate speech.
Read more: February 2025 - Digital Hate Monthly Report (Eng -Myan)
- Hits: 2200
February 2025 marked a pivotal moment in Myanmar’s ongoing crisis, with significant legal and political developments, escalating armed resistance, and increasing human rights violations.
The Argentine court’s issuance of arrest warrants for Min Aung Hlaing and 24 senior military officials under universal jurisdiction represents a historic step toward accountability for the genocide against the Rohingya. This ruling follows the International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor’s request for an arrest warrant in November 2024 and ongoing International Court of Justice (ICJ) proceedings in The Gambia v. Myanmar, which charges Myanmar with genocide. These cases mark a growing international effort to hold the junta accountable for atrocities committed against the Rohingya and other communities.
Read more: February 2025 - Summary of Monthly Situation Update
- Hits: 685
As hate speech is a term that comes from emotion, there is a wide spectrum in defining it, not a specific one. BHRN, therefore, standardized the definition of hate speech for this report as follows. Hate speech in this report means aggressiveness and hatred against protected characteristics of a person or a group, blaming, discriminative expression, writing, gesture, or art expression of excoriation, or dehumanization.
It means attacking someone’s faith, language, gender, sexual orientation, origin, ethnicity, skin color, race, belief, citizenship, and physical appearance. The monitored hate speeches were categorized as (1) Criminalizing Hate Speech, (2) Abusive Hate Speech, (3) Dehumanizing Hate Speech, (4) Violence Inciting Hate Speech, (5) Threatening Hate Speech, and (6) Hate Speech that supports prejudicial actions inspired by hate speech.
Read more: January 2025 - Digital Hate Monthly Report (Eng -Myan)
- Hits: 5478
A deepening political crisis looms in 2025 in Myanmar as the civil war intensifies and the junta increases using airpower to stop rebel offences in several parts of the country. Without any political dialogue, which is highly unlikely to happen in the coming months and with the junta pushing for an election later this year, more violence and instabilities are expected in the coming weeks and months.
As a consequence of the ongoing conflict in the country, the United Nations warned of acute famine in Rakhine State later this year. The conflict affected food production and a blockade of supplies of food into the state imposed by the junta is likely to create additional challenges for the sustainability of food for the region’s nearly 2 million population.
The rebel groups continue to make major gains in territories across Myanmar. The Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) also known as the Kokang rebel group, a close ally of China celebrated its first Lunar New Year in Lashio, the commercial capital in Northern Shan State which it took over last August. However, its continuing control of the town is uncertain as China is putting pressure on the group to return the control of the town to the Min Aung Hlaing regime, as a part of a ceasefire deal Beijing brokered at the beginning of the year.