During a planned meeting of the United Nations’ main human rights council, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights reported that the ongoing crisis associated with the 2021 coup has significantly deteriorated in the past few months.

“It has been three years since military rule began in Myanmar, causing unbearable suffering and cruelty to its people,” said the speaker. The country has seen a rise in armed conflict, resulting in thousands of deaths, some from aerial attacks on populated areas.

Suppression of freedoms

Mr. Türk referenced reliable accounts that the military has caused the deaths of over 4,600 people since February 2021, with many of them being women and children. The true number of casualties is expected to be significantly higher, according to the High Commissioner, who also mentioned testimonies suggesting that the military has burned or killed hundreds of civilians, including women, without a fair trial.

The deliberate lack of concern for human life has been coupled with widespread violations of basic rights and the principles of a fair legal system, according to Mr. Türk. These actions are still occurring throughout the country.

The High Commissioner stated that currently, over 20,000 individuals in Myanmar, 3,909 of whom are women, are being held in custody for opposing the military. He expressed concern over the widespread fear of arbitrary arrests and shared numerous reports of mistreatment and breaches of human rights.

“I am appalled by the findings of my office regarding the widespread use of torture against political prisoners in police stations, military interrogation centers, and prisons,” stated Mr. Türk.

Inter-ethnic tensions

The United Nations human rights chief stated that the armed forces utilized extreme nationalist groups to purposely increase tensions between different ethnic groups. As a result, there has been an alarming increase in violence in Rakhine state, including reports of civilians being bombed and forced to flee their homes in large numbers.

In 2017, Rakhine gained global attention as hundreds of thousands of ethnic Rohingya people were forced to escape to Bangladesh due to the actions of the Myanmar military, which former UN rights chief Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein described as a clear instance of ethnic cleansing.

In the previous year, approximately 5,000 Rohingya people made treacherous trips by boat in hopes of finding a place of safety. Hundreds more have been arrested while attempting to flee to different areas of Myanmar, according to Mr. Türk’s report to the Council.

He urged for an immediate end to military attacks on innocent civilians, the freeing of political detainees, and following international laws protecting human rights.

Mr. Türk stressed the critical importance of international unity and assistance in addressing the severe human rights situation in the country, which includes restricting the military’s access to weapons.

“In Myanmar, over the past three years, individuals have given up everything and maintained their hopes for a brighter and more secure future. It is vital for the global community to provide them with support,” emphasized the United Nations human rights leader.

The source of the information is from the United Nations website.