Yangon, May (5)
Over 8,000 civilians on both side of pro-democracy and pro-military factions have been arbitrarily killed in more than two years since the military regime led by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing took power on the grounds of voter fraud.
More than 3,450 pro-democracy activists and civilians who opposed the military coup were killed, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP). They were killed amid the junta’s crackdown on anti-military coup protests, interrogations, physically torture, airstrikes, artillery fire, and explosions.
Meanwhile, those who oppose the military regime in the opposition stronghold have been beheaded, taken as hostages and human shields, subjected to forced labor, burned alive, raped, and shot while driving, and some have stepped on landmines.
From February 1, 2021, when the military seized power in a coup, to mid-March of this year, more than 4,640 civilians were killed in PDF attacks, the junta said.
Some of the armed resistance forces that emerged after the military coup have been exterminating informants, village administrators, and senior department officials who supported the military council.
In the same way, pro-democracy civilians and political activists who support and finance the PDFs are being arrested and killed by the regime forces.
A local resident of Sagaing told Than Lwin Times, “Recently, five civilians were killed as they were used as human shields, and the junta troops arrested women passers-by at military checkpoints and did indecent acts on them”.
The military regime began to target civilians in its assault against the People’s Defense Forces in Sagaing, an opposition stronghold against the military coup.
On April 11, at least 171 civilians were killed when the junta fighter jet bombed Pazigyi village, Kangbalu township, Sagaing Region, while the people’s administrative group was opening an office with civilians.
U Banya, director of the Karenni Human Rights Group, told Than Lwin Times that Karenni State also has the highest number of arrests and killings of civilians, and the killing of the entire family was the worst human rights violation.
During two years after the military coup, more than 300 local civilians were killed, 134 displaced people died, and there were more than 360 airstrikes, according to the Progressive Karenni People’s Force (PKPF) announced on May 1.
Fighting has intensified between the junta armed forces and revolutionary forces such as the People’s Defense Forces (PDF) and ethnic armed organizations, including the National Unity Government (NUG).
According to political observers, in this situation, the two organizations will not approach the negotiating table, despite international pressure to resolve the deteriorating political situation.
On the other hand, even after two years have passed since the adoption of ASEAN’s five-point consensus, the military council has not been able to implement anything.
Veteran lawmaker U Pe Than stated that if the two parties are unable to settle the country’s crisis peacefully and instead choose to resolve it through military means, it will worsen the situation for the people and the nation as a whole.
According to data from the research organization ISP-Myanmar, more than 8,100 clashes have taken place nationwide since the coup until early this year, almost double the number of clashes that took place in the decade before the coup.
In the last four months, nearly 180 members of the People’s Defense Forces have been killed, according to the Myanmar Peace Monitor’s weekly statement, citing media reports.
According to the information released by the National Unity Government (NUG) on May 3, an estimated 30,000 enemy forces were defeated and more than 10,000 were injured during the people’s defensive war.
News – Than Lwin Times
Photo: Social Media
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