Report of the UN Independent Investigative Mechanism on Myanmar
The UN Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar has published a comprehensive report on the period between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024, when the military government in Myanmar increased its repression and the conflict intensified. The report draws attention with the statement that “there is significant evidence that brutal war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by the Myanmar military have increased at an alarming rate across the country.”
The report included significant evidence collected during this process regarding air strikes on schools, religious buildings and hospitals that were not designated as military targets, as well as acts of violence against people detained during the clashes and physical mutilations that would be considered within the scope of war crimes.
The report also noted that it investigated unlawful detentions, including arbitrary detentions and unfair trials of individuals as perceived by opponents of the military junta. “Thousands of people were arrested and many were tortured or died in custody. There is ample evidence of systematic use of severe physical and mental abuse, including beatings, electric shocks, strangulation and sleep deprivation,” the report said.
The report, which emphasizes evidence of violent sexual and gender-based crimes against detainees, noted that victims included individuals of all ages, including children. The report’s findings were reportedly based on information and evidence collected from more than 900 sources, including more than 400 eyewitness accounts, as well as additional evidence such as photographs, videos, audio materials, documents, maps, social media posts and forensic evidence.
While the vast majority of the information collected by the mechanism relates to crimes committed by Myanmar security forces, the report also highlights that there is credible evidence of crimes committed by armed groups fighting against the army. “We have gathered significant evidence that points to appalling levels of brutality and cruelty across Myanmar,” said Nicholas Koumjian, head of the UN Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar, whose comments were included in the report. “Many crimes were committed with the aim of punishing and terrorizing civilians.”
Koumjian said that no one is held accountable for any crime, adding that this emboldens perpetrators and deepens the culture of impunity in the country. “We are trying to break this cycle. I believe the mechanism has made significant progress in establishing criminal cases against those most responsible for these crimes,” he said.
The Military Coup Process in Myanmar
The military coup in Myanmar took place on February 1, 2021, following accusations of fraud in the 2020 general elections and increasing political tensions in the country. The Myanmar military detained many officials, including the country’s de facto leader and Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi, and declared a state of emergency for 1 year.
The “Three Brothers Alliance”, which brings together armed groups such as the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), the Buddhist Arakan Army and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army, has launched armed actions against the Myanmar army. More than 1,000 people have been killed and thousands have been detained as a result of the Myanmar army’s armed interventions against anti-coup prosecutors and rebel groups.
