AA
Ömer Faruk Madanoğlu
ISTANBUL
31.08.2023
Extent of sexual assault crimes against Rohingya women shocked me like never before, says UN investigator for Myanmar
United Nations Information Office in Yangon, Myanmar ( Aung Naing Soe - Anadolu Agency )
A senior UN official who visited Myanmar after the February 2021 coup said the lives of women and children in the Southeast Asian nation were at a particular risk.
Nicholas Koumjian, head of the UN's Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar, told Anadolu that prior to the coup in Myanmar, the UN tried to resolve tensions between the military junta and the former government.
Nicholas Koumjian, head of the UN's Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar, told Anadolu that prior to the coup in Myanmar, the UN tried to resolve tensions between the military junta and the former government.
He said: "During our efforts, the military staged the coup. We expressed concerns to the coup leaders and got assurances against unconstitutional actions."
However, the junta violated international law and the Constitution after the coup, he said.
The junta declared a state of emergency, resulting in violence and unlawful arrests, he added.
Initially they tolerated peaceful protests, but used indiscriminate force as the demonstrations grew, he said.
"Coup leaders initially allowed civilian actions but then used lethal force to suppress protesters. The military intervened forcefully, targeting journalists, doctors, and opposition figures," he said.
'Coup leaders use women and children to end protests'
Koumjian said the junta perceived the protests as "traitors."
Myanmar's military arrested women and children to suppress civil resistance and protests, he said.
Many civilians have died in indiscriminate air strikes by the military, he said.
"We have details of those killed in these attacks. In the April attack on Pa Zi Gyi village, at least 100 people died, including 40 children," he said.
Koumjian shed light on the high number of sexual assault cases against Rohingya women, saying: "I've been in various conflict zones, yet I've never seen anything like this before."
"We gather evidence of ongoing human rights violations against civilians, but Myanmar's junta remains unaccountable. I believe they will face justice one day, so I continue collecting evidence," he added.
'Radical fighters' lie
"The junta hides attacks on civilians behind the 'radical fighters' narrative, concealing its massacres. They continue fostering hatred against Muslims for their own agenda," he said.
"The coup leaders worsen Islamophobia by spreading false information on social media. They claim Muslims oppose Buddhism and that Muslim men make Buddhist wives convert," he added.
Stressing the vulnerability of the Rohingya due to religious discrimination he said: "Myanmar needs a government that serves, not attacks. The coup leaders relentlessly target civilians."
After allegations of election fraud and political tensions from the 2020 general elections, the Myanmar military seized power on Feb. 1, 2021. They detained officials including then de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi and declared a state of emergency.
Since the coup, over 3,000 people have died, more than 13,000 have been arrested, and over 10,000 remain imprisoned. Myanmar's military courts have sentenced two minors and 114 political prisoners to death.
*Writing by Necva Tastan
However, the junta violated international law and the Constitution after the coup, he said.
The junta declared a state of emergency, resulting in violence and unlawful arrests, he added.
Initially they tolerated peaceful protests, but used indiscriminate force as the demonstrations grew, he said.
"Coup leaders initially allowed civilian actions but then used lethal force to suppress protesters. The military intervened forcefully, targeting journalists, doctors, and opposition figures," he said.
'Coup leaders use women and children to end protests'
Koumjian said the junta perceived the protests as "traitors."
Myanmar's military arrested women and children to suppress civil resistance and protests, he said.
Many civilians have died in indiscriminate air strikes by the military, he said.
"We have details of those killed in these attacks. In the April attack on Pa Zi Gyi village, at least 100 people died, including 40 children," he said.
Koumjian shed light on the high number of sexual assault cases against Rohingya women, saying: "I've been in various conflict zones, yet I've never seen anything like this before."
"We gather evidence of ongoing human rights violations against civilians, but Myanmar's junta remains unaccountable. I believe they will face justice one day, so I continue collecting evidence," he added.
'Radical fighters' lie
"The junta hides attacks on civilians behind the 'radical fighters' narrative, concealing its massacres. They continue fostering hatred against Muslims for their own agenda," he said.
"The coup leaders worsen Islamophobia by spreading false information on social media. They claim Muslims oppose Buddhism and that Muslim men make Buddhist wives convert," he added.
Stressing the vulnerability of the Rohingya due to religious discrimination he said: "Myanmar needs a government that serves, not attacks. The coup leaders relentlessly target civilians."
After allegations of election fraud and political tensions from the 2020 general elections, the Myanmar military seized power on Feb. 1, 2021. They detained officials including then de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi and declared a state of emergency.
Since the coup, over 3,000 people have died, more than 13,000 have been arrested, and over 10,000 remain imprisoned. Myanmar's military courts have sentenced two minors and 114 political prisoners to death.
*Writing by Necva Tastan
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