UN Official: Myanmar Junta Targets Civilians to Instill Fear

The military-backed government in Myanmar is deliberately striking civilians to force submission, according to a U.N. rights investigator.

Kelley Currie, the Human Rights Council’s special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, told reporters on Thursday that the junta is using violence to instill fear. She stated that the increasing purchases of weapons from China, Russia, and other nations are fueling the conflict and creating a catastrophic human rights situation in the country.

Currie expressed concern that regional and global partners are engaging with the government without demanding concessions. She said these partners are not asking for a reduction in violence, the release of thousands of political prisoners, or dialogue toward peace with all parties. Myanmar’s neighbors in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations have recently appeared receptive to warmer relations, despite having rebuked the military for its 2021 seizure of power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.

The army’s takeover triggered pro-democracy protests that were brutally quashed, leading to armed resistance and a civil war spread over much of the country. The government’s armed forces possess a large advantage in arms and manpower. They have used air power from Chinese and Russian planes heavily but have failed to overcome opponents despite the use of force.

Currie raised concern about potential violence if the International Court of Justice rules that Myanmar’s military engaged in genocide or failed to prevent it during the 2017 crackdown on the Muslim Rohingya minority. She noted that groups responsible for hate speech against non-Buddhist and non-Bamar minorities are becoming more active online and in political spaces. She described this activity as a prelude to potential violence following the court’s decision. Nick Koumjian, head of the United Nations Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar, said he expects the court to give notice about when it will deliver judgments soon.

The legal economy in Myanmar has shrunk while the illicit economy has grown due to the 2021 takeover and government mismanagement. Currie stated that military officers are deeply corrupt and rely on patronage networks, illegal kickbacks, and management of black market activities. She said the government funds its activities through currency arbitrage, demanding shares in companies, and requiring kickbacks from farmers to the top of the food supply chain. The government has used these funds to upgrade surveillance capabilities and police the territory it controls, which is about half of the country.

The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, an independent watchdog group, reports that more than 32,000 people, including Suu Kyi, have been detained since the 2021 takeover. At least 15,000 remain behind bars.