Weekly Overview: Human Rights Situation in Mon State, Karen State and Tanintharyi Region

July 8, 2024

Throughout the first week of July, the Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM) observed worrying patterns of violence against women and girls in target areas of Mon State, Karen State and the Tanintharyi region.

At the end of June, HURFOM’s latest volume of ‘Voice Up’ also presented evidence of the rise in targeted gendered attacks. Further, a new report released by the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar on the gendered impacts of the coup found, “The threat of sexual and gender-based violence is a dark shadow that follows women, girls, and LGBT people throughout Myanmar.”

Over the last week alone, a woman died, and three others were injured after artillery shelling by the junta’s police station in Pala Town, Pu Law Township, Myeik District, Tanintharyi Region, on June 28th. The shelling occurred without any prior fighting. At 9 AM, the junta’s police station in Pala Town launched two artillery shells. One of the shells hit and exploded near a shop at the three-way intersection in Pala Town.

Daw San Yu, a woman in her 40s who was inside the shop, died due to the explosion. Another two women a man who was near the shop, were also injured. Earlier in June, an artillery shell fired by the military junta’s naval headquarters in Mawrawaddy exploded on a house in Yar Phu village, Yebyu Township, killing four family members, including an infant.

On June 29th, a novice monk was killed, and a woman was injured by artillery fire from Battalion 310 in Thane Zayat Township, Kyaik Hto Township, Mon State. According to locals, a shell fired by Artillery Battalion 310 under junta control struck the Dhamma Duta Monastery, causing casualties.

This incident followed a similar tragedy on June 14th, when a shell fired by Artillery Battalion 310 exploded, killing a 14-year-old girl named Ma Nandar Lin and injuring a one-and-a-half-year-old girl named Shwe Zin Lay. On the same day, four people, including two monks, were injured by artillery fire from junta troops in the village of Kha Kwal.

Furthermore, Artillery Battalion 310 and other military units under junta control frequently launch artillery shells into villages where civilians live. On June 3rd, an artillery mortar landed in Mok Kha Maw village in Thane Zayat, injuring a resident. On June 2, artillery fire destroyed two houses in Wa Duk Kwin village in Thane Zayat.

The ongoing rise of attacks against women, children and young people should be of significant concern to the international community. The lack of justice referral pathways in Burma has made it impossible for justice and accountability. Further, transparent, coordinated, and decisive calls must be organized in collaboration with local organizations to ensure evidence of the junta’s crimes can be tried in international legal systems.