GENEVA (AP) — A U.N.-backed investigator has revealed alarming evidence of systemic torture within Myanmar's detention centers, encompassing practices such as electric shocks, strangulations, gang rape, and the burning of sexual body parts over the past year. Nicholas Koumjian, who leads the international independent team, shared these insights during the release of their annual report on Tuesday, which focuses on the period from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023.
Since the military coup that ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021, Myanmar has plunged into chaos. The coup prompted a violent crackdown on peaceful protests, followed by a civil war as many opponents of the military regime took up arms. Consequently, numerous regions across the country are now engulfed in conflict, exacerbating the already dire human rights situation.
The investigative team reported notable progress in identifying security personnel involved in heinous operations at detention facilities. This includes those responsible for the summary execution of captured combatants or civilians suspected of being informants. The findings indicate that perpetrators comprise not only military forces but also affiliated militias and opposition armed groups.
According to the report, documented instances of torture in Myanmar’s detention centers reveal a pattern of abuse, including beatings, electric shocks, strangulations, gang rape, and various forms of sexual violence. Koumjian emphasized the increasing frequency and brutality of these atrocities, advocating for accountability and justice for the victims. “We are working towards the day when the perpetrators will have to answer for their actions in a court of law,” he stated, underscoring the urgency of addressing these crimes.
The investigative team has initiated new inquiries into atrocities directed against communities in the Rakhine state, where the military and the opposition group known as the Arakan Army are vying for territorial control. The ongoing conflict has led to a significant humanitarian crisis, with over 700,000 members of the Rohingya minority fleeing to neighboring Bangladesh in 2017 to escape persecution. Additionally, around 70,000 Rohingya crossed the border last year as the Arakan Army effectively took control of Rakhine.
The Independent Investigative Mechanism on Myanmar has been operational since 2018, working under a mandate from the U.N.-backed Human Rights Council. Its primary mission is to aid in documenting human rights abuses and violations occurring within the country. The Mechanism has also shared critical evidence with relevant authorities pursuing investigations related to the Rohingya at both the International Criminal Court and the U.N. International Court of Justice.
The current situation in Myanmar highlights the severe human rights violations taking place amid ongoing conflict, with widespread torture and abuse documented in the latest findings. The path towards justice remains crucial as the international community observes the unfolding crisis and the plight of marginalized and oppressed communities within the nation.
