Thursday March 11th 2021
Brutal military junta in Myanmar
UN expert recognizes "murderous regime"
"At least 70 people" were murdered by the military junta in Myanmar, an independent observer reports to the United Nations. Instead of requests to speak, active help is needed to protect the people in the country from further "crimes against humanity".
According to a UN expert, the violent actions of the military junta in Myanmar correspond to crimes against humanity. There is "more and more evidence" that the army and its highest leaders are "likely to commit crimes against humanity," said Thomas Andrews, an independent human rights expert in the Southeast Asian country, before the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. Myanmar is currently "controlled by a murderous, illegal regime".
Andrews cited "murders, forced disappearances, persecution, torture" as examples of alleged crimes committed by the armed forces. Although such crimes can only be officially established by a court, there are clear indications that the junta's actions are "widespread", "systematic" and part of a "coordinated campaign". In addition, they would be carried out with the knowledge of the military leadership around junta chief Min Aung Hlaing.
The UN special rapporteur presented his report, published last week, and complained that the situation he described had worsened since then. The number of those killed and arrested by the armed forces has increased significantly.
"You need help"
"Myanmar security forces murdered at least 70 people," most of them under the age of 25, Andrews said, citing credible reports. He documented how the junta "systematically destroyed legal protection", "from freedom of speech to the right of assembly to the right to privacy."
The "deep concern" expressed by the UN Security Council on Wednesday about the situation in Myanmar was "completely inadequate," criticized Andrews. "The people of Myanmar need not just words of support, they need action," he said. "You need help from the international community now," he urged.
Since the military came to power in the Southeast Asian country in early February, hundreds of thousands have taken to the streets to demand the return to democracy and the release of de facto Prime Minister Aung San Suu Kyi and others arrested. The generals let the security forces use force against the demonstrators. The soldiers apparently use deadly force in a targeted manner. According to eyewitnesses, at least seven of the nine dead on Thursday were shot in the head. More than 2,000 people were arrested.
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