Myanmar Military Accused of Extensive Civilian Casualties
A new report from the United Nations Human Rights Office alleges that Myanmar's military caused over 700 civilian deaths during a six-month timeframe last year, from August to January. This period encompassed the lead-up to elections, which were largely dismissed as illegitimate due to the exclusion of major opposition parties.
According to the report, a minimum of 702 individuals were credibly verified as killed, including 224 women and 153 children. The document also raises concerns about a reduction in international aid, stating that this decline is 'further compounding the suffering of millions of people' within the country.
Impact of Air Strikes and Regional Violence
The UN's Human Rights Office highlighted that air strikes were 'the single largest cause of destruction and suffering.' The Sagaing region was identified as particularly perilous for civilians, experiencing 191 deaths, among them 60 women and 30 children, as the military intensified its efforts to gain control.
Specific incidents cited in the report include an October attack in Chaung-U, Sagaing, where munitions struck civilians gathered in front of a school, resulting in 23 deaths, including four children, and over 60 injuries. Participants were reportedly holding a candlelit event to commemorate the end of Buddhist Lent, advocate for political prisoner releases, protest military conscription, and reject military elections.
Another incident in December saw a military aircraft bomb a tea shop in Tabayin, Sagaing, where people had convened to watch a football match. This attack allegedly killed at least 19 individuals and wounded 20 others.
Broader Humanitarian Concerns and Political Context
The report also touched upon the plight of the Rohingya population, who have reportedly faced forced recruitment by the Arakan Army, alongside killings, arbitrary arrests, and sexual violence.
"As if the people of Myanmar have not suffered enough at the hands of the military, they have now seemingly been forgotten by those outside the country," stated UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk. "Funding for localised protection efforts was in many areas the only solace from the suffering caused by constant targeting and indiscriminate attacks by the military. This pullback just compounds that injury."
The military seized power in a 2021 coup, overthrowing the democratically elected government and imprisoning its leader, Aung San Suu Kyi. This act ignited a civil war, leading to thousands of deaths and millions displaced. While opposition groups initially made significant territorial gains, the military has since regained momentum, largely due to forced conscription and enhanced drone capabilities.
In April, General Min Aung Hlaing, who orchestrated the coup, assumed the presidency. The recent elections were widely regarded as predetermined, with many popular parties prohibited from participating and large parts of the country unable to vote due to ongoing conflict. The parliament is now predominantly composed of his loyalists, with the armed forces guaranteed a quarter of the seats, and the military's own party, the USDP, securing nearly 80% of the remaining seats in what was described as a heavily skewed election.
Source: Myanmar army killed over 700 civilians in six months, UN says