Burma: the situation in the country is “an endless nightmare”, says the UN
Three years later after the coup d'état which placed a military junta in power, the situation in Burma is "
an endless nightmare
" for the population, declared Friday March 1, Volker Türk, the United Nations High Commissioner for human rights.
An injured Burmese military soldier who surrendered to the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force is transported in Loikaw, Myanmar, in this image from a video released on November 15, 2023 (illustrative image).
via REUTERS - Karenni Nationalities Defense Fo
By: RFI with AFP
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Three years later after the coup d'état, the junta of General Min Aung Hlaing, now in power in
Burma
, crushes all forms of dissent with "
unbearable cruelty
" and with total impunity, accused Volker Türk, calling on the Council of human rights to act, and countries around the world to try to prevent further atrocities.
“
The human rights situation in Burma has become a never-ending nightmare, far from the gaze of world politics
,” he said, as the Council discussed the country.
"
Worse and worse
"
This “
armed conflict is getting worse and worse and now extends to almost the entire country.
Three years of military rule have inflicted, and continue to inflict, unbearable levels of suffering and cruelty on the people of Burma
,” he added.
The junta represses the slightest opposition “
with a total abuse of power
”, while the economic situation continually worsens, he also pointed out.
The junta came to power in February 2021 in a coup that ousted the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, ending a ten-year period of democracy, and plunging the country into violence. .
In addition to pro-democracy activists, the junta is also fighting several ethnic armed groups.
Violence intensifies
According to credible sources, more than 4,600 civilians, including more than a thousand women and children, have been killed by the army since February 2021, Mr. Türk noted, adding that “
the real toll
(was)
very likely higher
".
Still according to these sources, around 400 civilians, including 113 women, were either burned alive or burned after being executed.
Violence has intensified since October 2023, when ethnic armed groups launched a series of coordinated attacks, to which the army responded with force, not hesitating to bomb towns or cities.
“
For three years, people in Burma have sacrificed everything to maintain hope for a better future
,” Mr. Türk said.
“
They need the entire international community to support them
.”
Read alsoBurma: “We, revolutionary forces, are winning,” explains a minister of the pro-democracy government
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