"Myanma Military Junta Killed 5,350 Civilians Since Coup... Horrific Torture Too"

A survey revealed that more than 5,000 civilians have died at the hands of the military since the Myanmar military junta coup in 2021.

According to AFP on the 18th, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) announced in a report released the previous day that 5,350 civilians were killed by the military since the coup in February 2021. Approximately 27,400 civilians have been arrested since the coup.

The report was based on interviews with victims and witnesses. OHCHR pointed out that "the military criminalizes almost all acts opposing the military regime," emphasizing that human rights are being violated, with horrific torture widespread.

The report also stated that when political opponents' parents could not be found, their young children were arrested instead, and there were cases of torture such as hanging people from ceilings or inducing fear with snakes or insects. Victims were forced to kneel or crawl on hard and sharp objects, and were beaten with iron rods, rifle butts, leather straps, and other implements.

Liz Throssell, OHCHR spokesperson, said at a briefing, "Since the coup, at least 1,853 people, including 88 children and 125 women, have died in detention," adding, "Many were confirmed to have died due to harsh interrogations and lack of proper medical treatment."

Volker T?rk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, recommended referring the Myanmar military's human rights violations to the International Criminal Court (ICC). The Myanmar military claimed the November 2020 general election, in which the National League for Democracy (NLD) led by State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi won by a landslide, was fraudulent, and staged a coup in February the following year, violently suppressing opposition forces.