29 Dec 2021 – Yangon/London -- Since the coup on Feb 1, the Myanmar military junta has been committing acts of serious human rights crimes against civilians in different forms. The regime consistently violates freedom of expression and freedom of movement, the torture of civilians is occurring daily, and extrajudicial punishment, killings and enforced disappearances haven’t stopped in the 10 months since the coup.
29 Dec 2021 – Yangon/London -- Since the coup on Feb 1, the Myanmar military junta has been committing acts of serious human rights crimes against civilians in different forms. The regime consistently violates freedom of expression and freedom of movement, the torture of civilians is occurring daily, and extrajudicial punishment, killings and enforced disappearances haven’t stopped in the 10 months since the coup.
On 24 December in Hpruso, Kayah State, more than 30 people, including elderly people, women, and children were killed and their bodies were burned. According to the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force announcement, one of the burnt bodies appears to be as young as kindergarten age. The bodies are too damaged to identify at this point, but it is likely they are internally displaced people (IDPs) who were fleeing their villages due to conflicts.
The act committed by the military junta against civilians is horrific and intolerable. Yet, it is only the latest example of the junta’s threat to the safety of civilians in Myanmar. BHRN is devastated by these events, and we grieve for the loss of life. The victims and their families deserve justice, peace, and the support of the international community.
Similarly, nearly 40 people were killed and had their bodies burned by military junta near Kani, Sagaing in July of this year. This type of gruesome and barbaric killing is systematic and has been widespread in Burma since the uprising against the coup. It is clear the junta is committing serious crimes against humanity, and they follow the same pattern discovered during the investigations of the Rohingya genocide in 2017.
BHRN denounces these grotesque human rights violations committed by the military junta across the country. The military Junta must stop killing civilians, burning villages, and the violating International Human Rights Law.
BHRN urges the international community to act for the safety of civilians and to stand with the people of Burma. The international community must increase pressure on the military and cut off their access to revenue and weapons. Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE) must be a global target for sanctions in order to stop the military from carrying out further atrocities. BHRN supports the SPECIAL ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR MYANMAR (SAC-M) briefing on Dec 14 which described the Burmese military as a terrorist organization. BHRN also strongly supports the KNU’s calls for the UN to impose a No-Fly Zone on Burma.
