The situation in Myanmar continues to deteriorate, with a recent report by the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) painting a grim picture of the country’s human rights landscape. The report accuses the military junta of perpetrating serious human rights violations, underscoring the deepening crisis and the absence of rule of law.
The report reveals that at least 5,350 civilians have been killed in military actions since the coup in February 2021, including over 1,800 deaths in custody. The junta’s air and artillery strikes have resulted in hundreds of civilian casualties. The report also highlights the alarming increase in deaths during detention, with 2,414 fatalities recorded between April 2023 and June 2024, a 50% rise compared to the previous reporting period.
The military’s violent crackdown on nationwide protests following the coup has led to widespread displacement, with over 3.3 million people forced from their homes. The report further states that over half of the country’s population now lives below the poverty line, primarily due to the military’s violence.
The report details the devastating impact of the junta’s actions on the mental health of the population, as well as the regression in economic and social rights, leading to further economic decline. The report also highlights the exodus of young people, who represent the future of Myanmar, as they flee the country to escape being forced into military service.
The report further exposes the shocking reality of detentions under the junta’s rule. Since the coup, nearly 27,400 individuals have been arrested, with the number of arrests rising since the implementation of mandatory conscription in February 2024. Credible sources indicate that at least 1,853 detainees have died in custody, including 88 children and 125 women.
The UN report documents harrowing accounts of torture and ill-treatment in detention facilities. Detainees described being subjected to brutal methods, including suspension from the ceiling without food or water, forced kneeling or crawling on sharp objects, and the introduction of animals such as snakes and insects to provoke fear and terror. They detailed being beaten with iron poles, bamboo sticks, batons, rifle butts, leather strips, electric wires, motorcycle chains, and subjected to asphyxiation, mock executions, electrocution, and burning with tasers, lighters, cigarettes, and boiling water.
The OHCHR spokesperson, Liz Throssell, stated that the report highlights the military’s instrumentalization of the legal system to criminalize dissent against its rule, creating a vacuum of rule of law.
Based on the report’s findings, UN High Commissioner Volker Türk has called for the UN Security Council to refer the situation in Myanmar to the International Criminal Court. He also urged an end to violence and the immediate and unconditional release of all arbitrarily detained individuals.
James Rodehaver, head of the UN Human Rights Myanmar team, emphasized the real deterioration of the situation in the country due to violence and armed conflict. He highlighted the systematic regression in human rights fueled by the military’s actions.
The report serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing human rights crisis in Myanmar and underscores the urgent need for international action to hold the perpetrators accountable. The report’s findings call for decisive steps to end the violence, protect civilians, and ensure justice for victims.
