UN reports Myanmar military intensifying violence against civilians since 2021 coup

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A United Nations report has found that Myanmar's military regime has escalated its crackdown on civilians, leading to more than 5,350 deaths since the February 2021 coup. The report, released by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk, outlines the military's continued efforts to suppress opposition and respond to an armed rebellion against its authority.

Since removing the elected civilian government of Aung San Suu Kyi, the military has increasingly used violence, including air and artillery strikes, to target civilians. The report highlights that 2,414 civilians were killed between April 2023 and June 2024, a 50% rise compared to the previous reporting period. Thousands of people have been detained, including children, as part of the military’s broader attempt to curb dissent.

James Rodehaver, head of the UN rights office’s Myanmar team, noted that the military has used the legal system to criminalize most forms of opposition. The report also detailed the widespread abuse of detainees. Since the coup, over 27,400 individuals have been arrested, with many believed to be held in military training centers. Additionally, at least 1,853 people, including 88 children, have died in custody, often due to abusive interrogation, lack of medical care, or other ill-treatment.

The report, based on remote interviews with hundreds of victims and witnesses, revealed various forms of torture experienced by detainees. Methods included suspensions from ceilings, beatings with objects like bamboo sticks and electric wires, and the use of animals such as snakes to provoke fear.

The Myanmar military has not responded to the report's findings. The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a human rights organization monitoring the aftermath of the coup, has verified at least 5,665 civilian deaths and is in the process of confirming 2,500 more.

The UN report recommends that Myanmar's human rights violations be referred to the International Criminal Court (ICC). Myanmar is already under investigation by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for allegations of genocide stemming from the military's 2017 crackdown on the Rohingya Muslim minority, which led to extensive violence and displacement.

The international community continues to observe the situation in Myanmar, with increasing calls for accountability for the actions of the military. As violence persists, pressure mounts for justice for the victims of these human rights abuses.