Myanmar: Death And Destruction Two Years After The Tatmadaw’s Coup
A sign outside Mandalay Palace, Myanmar. Creative Commons photo by Adam Jones.
(ANALYSIS) Two years ago, on Feb. 1, 2021, the Myanmar military, the Tatmadaw, staged a coup and took over the country. What followed can only be described as a brutal crackdown to suppress opposition to its rule, including mass killings, torture and sexual violence.
The crackdown on human rights defenders and the opposition in the country was followed by an increase in arbitrary detentions and criminal proceedings, especially targeting protesters, journalists, lawyers, health workers and political opposition. Many of them have been, and are currently being, denied their right to a fair trial as per international standards. Two years later, the situation has not improved, and the future looks bleak.
Among some of the most concerning developments during the Tatmadaw’s rule is the return of death sentences in the country. Indeed, as of July 25, 2022, with the first executions in over 30 years, people in Myanmar face yet another challenge — of killings under the pretext of enforcing legal judgments. On July 25, 2022, four democracy activists, Ko Jimmy (also known as Kyaw Min Yu), Phyo Zeya Thaw, Hla Myo Aung and Aung Thura Zaw, were executed by Myanmar’s military.
The Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar commented on these cases and emphasized that “none of the trial proceedings were public and the judgments are not publicly accessible. A fundamental attribute of a fair trial under international law is that it be held in public to the greatest extent possible, with exceptions tailored as narrowly as possible to the justification, such as national security considerations. Yet the imposition of sentences on the basis of secret proceedings is indicative of the commission of the crime of imprisonment and, in the case of the imposition of the death penalty, could constitute the crime of murder, openly carried out by an organ of government.”
As it stands, it is highly likely that further executions will follow. These violations add to a litany of atrocities committed by the Tatmadaw — including the genocidal atrocities against the Rohingya Muslims and the persecution of many religious or belief communities across Myanmar.
Marking the two-year anniversary, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres issued a statement condemning all forms of violence as the multidimensional crisis continues to deteriorate and fuel serious regional implications. The secretary-general stated that he was concerned about “the military’s stated intention to hold elections amid intensifying aerial bombardment and burning of civilian houses, along with ongoing arrests, intimidation and harassment of political leaders, civil society actors and journalists. Without conditions that permit the people of Myanmar to freely exercise their political rights, the proposed polls risk exacerbating instability.” He further called for “the full and unhindered access to all affected communities as well as prioritizing the safety and security of the United Nations agencies and its partners.”
Marking the two years of the Tatmadaw in power, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom reported that, to date, the military coup has led to the death of around 3,000 civilians as well as the destruction of villages and houses of worship in various parts of the country. In its 2022 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended the U.S. Department of State redesignate Myanmar as a country of particular concern. USCIRF also published a policy update on the coup, elaborating on religious freedom conditions in the country and providing recommendations to the U.S. government.
Two years after the coup, it is crystal clear that the Tatmadaw does not and will not ensure or protect the basic human rights of the people in Myanmar. Oppression is the only method that the Tatmadaw uses to deal with opposition or anyone that the Tatmadaw does not deem worthy of protection. The situation in Myanmar requires ongoing attention and comprehensive responses — responses that put the people of Myanmar first.
Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab is a human rights advocate, author and co-founder of the Coalition for Genocide Response. She’s authored the book “Never Again: Legal Responses to a Broken Promise in the Middle East” and more than 30 UN reports. She works on the topic of genocide and persecution of ethnic and religious minorities around the world. She is on Twitter @EwelinaUO. This piece was republished from Forbes with permission.