UNITED NATIONS — The military leadership in Myanmar is significantly escalating its assault on villages that have been taken over by opposition groups, resulting in horrific acts such as beheadings, sexual assaults, and various forms of torture. These violations affect a wide range of the population, including women, children, and the elderly, as detailed by the U.N.’s independent human rights investigator for Myanmar in a recent report.
The report, presented to the U.N. General Assembly and shared on Friday, highlights a dramatic increase in violence from the junta as it suffers military setbacks and loses territories. Thomas Andrews, a former U.S. congressman from Maine serving as the investigator, stated that the junta is now resorting to advanced weaponry against civilians as it aims to obliterate towns that it struggles to govern.
Andrews labeled Myanmar’s situation as an “invisible crisis,” noting that global focus has shifted elsewhere, which has emboldened sustained atrocities against its citizens. He criticized nations complicit in supplying the junta with weapons and materials, asserting that such support exacerbates the crisis. However, he did commend Singapore for significantly curtailing arms transfers, which led to a 90% decrease from businesses based in Singapore. Additionally, he acknowledged the impact of U.S. sanctions targeting state-controlled banks in Myanmar, which have disrupted the junta’s military resources.
Despite these actions, Andrews expressed dismay that few countries are taking decisive steps to mitigate the dire human rights and humanitarian crises unfolding in Myanmar. He urged nations to end the arms trade with the junta, enhance humanitarian support for the millions affected, and actively pursue accountability for human rights abuses.
The ongoing turmoil in Myanmar began when the military overthrew the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021, brutally quelling peaceful protests and igniting armed resistance across the nation. The military has increasingly relied on airstrikes to combat opposition forces and secure regions under its control.
Currently, the military finds itself strategically under pressure from ethnic militias along with numerous guerrilla groups identified as the People’s Defense Forces, who have united with the purpose of restoring democracy. Historically, the junta has defended its actions by claiming that its attacks are directed only towards legitimate warfare targets, branding resistance fighters as terrorists.
Andrews criticized the junta’s plan to hold elections in late 2025, describing it as a “farcical parody,” crafted to create a facade of legitimacy while alleviating international scrutiny. He warned that this deceptive tactic is dangerous, foreseeing potential increases in violence and instability.
As for the aftermath of the ongoing conflict, over 3.1 million individuals are now displaced due to warfare and human rights violations perpetrated by the junta. Furthermore, around 18.6 million individuals require urgent humanitarian assistance, with 13.3 million grappling with critical food shortages. The junta’s crackdown has resulted in the deaths of over 5,800 civilians, the destruction of more than 100,000 homes and structures, and the wrongful detention of over 21,000 political prisoners.
Andrews described horrific instances of violence perpetrated by junta forces, including ground assaults targeting civilian populations, mass executions of individuals already captured, as well as widespread accounts of torture and sexual violence against victims.
The human rights expert highlighted that the situation is especially grave in Rakhine state, which has seen the Arakan Army, an organization fighting for autonomy, successfully gain control over more than half of its townships. While Andrews references human rights abuses committed by the Arakan Army, he also notes that the military has retaliated against civilians in response to the group’s growing momentum, resulting in rising tensions between the Rakhine and Rohingya communities.
In Myanmar, the Rohingya, a Muslim minority, have been historically viewed as outsiders despite their long-standing presence in the country. Since being stripped of citizenship in 1982, this community faced dire consequences, most notably during a severe military crackdown in 2017, which forced approximately 740,000 Rohingya into neighboring Bangladesh. The military has been accused of committing widespread atrocities during this period, including sexual violence and widespread destruction of homes.
Additionally, reports indicate that the military junta has pressed thousands of Rohingya men into service, deploying them in conflicts with the Arakan Army. Some Rohingya factions have reportedly aligned themselves with the junta, committing abuses against the Rakhine community. Andrews warned that hundreds of thousands in Rakhine state are isolated from essential humanitarian assistance, facing threats of starvation, exposure, and disease.
He cautioned that failure to promptly address these humanitarian needs could result in a catastrophic death toll among innocent civilians. Recently, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, leading efforts to address the plight of one million Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, urged U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to summon a conference that includes all key stakeholders in the Rohingya crisis to address these pressing issues. Andrews echoed this call for action, emphasizing the need for global focus to mobilize essential resources to save lives at risk.
