International Condemnation as Human Rights Crisis Unfolds in Myanmar

Myanmar has received global condemnation as a human rights crisis unfolds.

On 1st February, large-scale protests erupted throughout Myanmar in response to the seizure of power by the country’s military elite. Demonstrators have been demanding the release of imprisoned elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other members of her National League for Democracy party. The protestors vehemently reject the army’s claim that it has majority support.

Violent suppression of the right to protest

In its crackdown on the protests, the army has violated basic civil liberties: on 8th February, a curfew was imposed together with a law banning more than five people from congregating.

Despite these restrictions, hundreds of thousands of people continue to take to the streets and have been met with police and troops deploying teargas, water cannons, rubber bullets, slingshots and live ammunition.

Internet blackouts have been imposed repeatedly by the military, which has also prepared a draconian draft law that would criminalise many online activities and increase internet surveillance to quash dissent. Under this law, online service providers will be required to keep – and, if ordered, provide to authorities – user data including names, IP addresses, phone numbers, ID card numbers and even physical addresses.

The military junta will be able to imprison anyone who posts what they believe to be “misinformation or disinformation” which can disrupt the “unity, stabilization, and peace” of the country. 

On the 19th February, Mya Thwate Thwate Khaing became the first known casualty of the protests just before her 20th birthday, after being shot with live ammunition by security forces in Naypyitaw ten days prior while sheltering from a water cannon with her sister. She has become a symbol of resistance for demonstrators, and her funeral was attended by thousands.

On the day Khaing was shot, Human Rights Watch said, “Myanmar police should immediately end the use of excessive and lethal force against people protesting the… military coup.”

On 20th February at least two more demonstrators, believed to be a young man and a teenage boy, were killed by live rounds deployed by the military in Mandalay. According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners in Burma (AAPPB), as of 25th February, 728 people have been arrested since the start of the protests, 666 of whom are still in detention or have outstanding warrants. The organisation has confirmed seven deaths in the same period. Other police actions have included wrongful abductions of civilians and brutality resulting in severe injuries to demonstrators.

Global response

The international community has unanimously come forward to demand the release of political prisoners, with civil society groups around the world condemning the military’s violation of the fundamental human rights to privacy, access to information, protest, freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly since the beginning of the month.

The Group of Seven’s foreign ministers said in a joint statement, “anyone responding to peaceful protests with violence must be held to account”, while the US, Britain, Canada and New Zealand have announced limited sanctions since the coup.

The secretary-General of the UN, António Guterres, stated on Twitter:

“I condemn the use of deadly violence in Myanmar. The use of lethal force, intimidation & harassment against peaceful demonstrators is unacceptable. Everyone has a right to peaceful assembly. I call on all parties to respect election results and return to civilian rule.”

On 22nd February, the EU Council demanded the “restoration of the legitimate civilian government”, and called on the junta to “immediately and unconditionally release” Myanmar’s elected leader, echoing the UN’s fresh condemnation of the military coup.

So far the chorus of international outrage has had little effect on the actions of Min Aung Hlaing’s new regime, and Aung San Suu Kyi remains under house arrest. But as tens of thousands continue to demonstrate every day, there are no signs that the army’s brutality is diminishing the will of the people of Myanmar to determine their own future.

Flora Thomas
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Featured image courtesy of Ninjastrikers on Wikimedia Commons. Image license found here. No changes were made to this image.