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

September 16, 2024

A weekly update by the Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM) on the situation on the ground. Summary data includes Mon State, Karen State and Tanintharyi region.

For decades, the military junta has evaded accountability for their crimes against women and girls. Protected by military courts under the 2008 Constitution and a lack of transparency or investigation into any crime related to conflict-related sexual violence, survivors have suffered from trauma and a lack of accountability. Every quarter, the Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM) releases an update titled ‘Voice Up,’ which provides documentation and analysis on the violations perpetrated against women and girls in target areas of Mon State, Karen State and the Tanintharyi region.

On 10 September, HURFOM released the third installment that found 177 women have been killed since the coup, in addition to 370 wounded and 1,540 unlawfully arrested and detained. At least five women are still missing after being held in junta custody. Throughout the reporting period, at least nine women were killed, 26 injured, and 13 were arbitrarily arrested, in addition to 6 children killed and 33 who sustained injuries from the junta’s attacks.

Over the last week, women continued to be subjected to widespread human rights violations. Daw Chit Chit Htoo, age 26, was a primary school teacher in Mu Kwel village, Chaung Zone Township, Mon State. On September 8th, she was raped and killed by her partner, Aung Thu Hein who is also a soldier with the military junta. She disappeared on 1 September and was found a week later deceased, near a firewood forest, 50 ft away from “Dat Paung Su” Pagoda in Mu Kwel village. The body showed evidence of stab wounds.

Another woman who disappeared in August has not been seen since her arrest by the military junta. The victim, 23-year-old Ma Ka Yin Ma from Ya Phue Yaw Thit village, Ya Phue village tract, Yebyu Township, Tenasserim Division, was arrested by the junta’s security forces stationed at the Chaung Taung security gate in Ye Township on 10 August.

She was returning home after visiting her elder sister, who had been admitted to the Ye Township General Hospital.

“She hadn’t reached home by 6 PM that day, so I phoned her. The soldiers answered her phone and said they arrested her and released her after interrogation,” said her husband, who added that Ma Ka Yin Ma was arrested allegedly for having contact with the People’s Defense Force. There has been no trace of her since her arrest.

“My wife had a friend who is a member of the PDF. But they have no contact with each other,” he said.

Women were also among several villagers who were abducted, detained and used as human shields by the junta. Since clashes erupted between the junta forces and the People’s Defense Forces (PDF) in Pala town, Pu Law Township, Myeik District on 4 September, more than 45 villagers have been arrested and used as human shields by the junta.

The villagers arrested while traveling on the roads include men, women, and older people. After nearly a full day of fighting, around 30 people of military service age were further detained, while 14 locals, all over the age of 50, were released on the evening of 5 September.

“One column raided houses and dragged people out while another battalion launched frontal attacks,” said a local male resident.

The junta has also been utilizing three vessels near the sea near Kyauk Kar village and Pala Chaung Wa to launch artillery attacks. In August, more than 300 residents from seven townships in Tanintharyi were arrested, and nearly 20 villagers were detained for forced conscription. The identities of those conscripted are still being investigated.

Since September 1st, junta forces have intensified their operations in Pala town, moving through waterways and occupying residential areas and schools as of September 8. The mass arrests have caused thousands of locals to flee to safer places to escape the conflict.

Written by HURFOM · Filed Under Analysis, News