8-8-2023 (GENEVA) Shocking revelations of intensified war crimes in Myanmar have come to light as United Nations investigators present compelling evidence of a harrowing onslaught, including mass executions and sexual violence. The Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM) disclosed on Tuesday that a disturbing pattern of grave violations was emerging, orchestrated by Myanmar’s military and affiliated militias, who were growing increasingly brazen in their actions.
The investigative body highlighted an array of deeply disturbing acts, including indiscriminate aerial bombardments, the wanton destruction of villages, and the merciless killing of both civilians and detained combatants. In a distressing cascade of horrors, the report also exposed incidents of torture and gruesome sexual violence.
This annual report, presented by the Mechanism, underlines an alarming escalation in acts bearing the unmistakable hallmarks of serious international crimes, a surge that has unfolded in the aftermath of a coup.
Nicholas Koumjian, Chief of the Mechanism, voiced his profound concern, stating, “Every life lost in Myanmar is a tragedy, but the sheer devastation caused by aerial bombardments and village burnings is particularly distressing.”
The investigators, in collaboration with the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court, have been steadfastly working to gather comprehensive evidence. Although denied access to Myanmar itself, the team has engaged with over 700 sources and amassed an astonishing collection of more than 23 million items of information. These include witness testimonies, official documents, photographic evidence, videos, forensic data, and satellite imagery.
The team’s resolve is unwavering as it aims to expedite the meticulous compilation of evidence pertaining to the gravest international crimes. Of particular significance is the quest for “linkage evidence,” a crucial element in establishing the culpability of specific individuals, especially high-ranking officials.
Underpinning the investigators’ work is the critical recognition that military commanders are duty-bound by international law to prevent and penalise war crimes committed by those under their command. The report underscored that the repeated disregard for such crimes may imply a deliberate intent by higher authorities to orchestrate these heinous acts.
The report also shed light on the deeply disturbing recruitment of child soldiers by various armed entities. Additionally, it illuminated a distressing surge in instances of torture, sexual violence, and other forms of abhorrent mistreatment within numerous detention facilities.
Evidence painstakingly collected by the IIMM painted a horrifying picture, revealing that these crimes were being perpetrated with unparalleled cruelty and brutality, encompassing acts such as rape with objects, dehumanising humiliation, mutilation, serial rape, and sexual enslavement.
The IIMM’s mandate extends to the investigation of the rampant sexual violence that marred the brutal crackdown on Myanmar’s Rohingya Muslim minority in 2017, resulting in the displacement of nearly a million individuals. Nicholas Koumjian remarked on the urgency of addressing sexual and gender-based crimes, asserting, “These are among the most heinous crimes that we are investigating,” highlighting their pervasive nature during the Rohingya clearance operations.
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