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

HURFOM | June Week Four

As June nears an end, the Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM) remains deeply concerned over the rise of atrocities perpetrated by the junta against civilians. Over the last week, women were targeted by the regime in a series of arbitrary arrests and abductions. The lawlessness that continues to consume the daily affairs of citizens is all the more evident that more than anything – the junta fears the people themselves who refuse to accept their dictatorship. This was especially clear following the arrest of nine women who participated in a flower strike to mark the birthday of State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in Mawlamyine, Mon State. On June 19, the arrested and imprisoned State Counselor’s 78th birthday was commemorated by flower strikes.

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

HURFOM | June Week Three

As the people’s calls for justice and accountability grow, it is all the more concerning that some ASEAN countries refuse to condemn the military’s violence and gross negligence. Across the last week, it was revealed that the outgoing Thai Foreign Minister was planning secret meetings with the military junta. The Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM) joined regional civil society organizations in expressing concern and frustration in further coordinating meetings that go against the people’s will. These meetings must not take place at the risk of legitimizing the junta.

While authoritarian leaders corroborate, the Burma Army continues its widespread attacks against civilians nationwide. In Southeastern Burma, indiscriminate firing by junta-backed soldiers indicates the impunity that goes unchallenged at the cost of human lives. According to residents, the junta troops shot and killed a young, internally displaced man from Ya Nge village, Thayet Chaung Township, Dawei District, on the afternoon of June 11. He fled as fighting descended upon Min Dap, Tain Kon, Ka Myaing, Ya Nge, Kyauk Kha Mauk, Kyaul Min Kon and Kanet Thiri villages.
The victim was 23-year-old Ko Wai Yan Hein, who was shot while trying to escape to a safe place with his family when the junta troops arrived. He was targeted while returning home to take medicine for his ill mother:

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

HURFOM | June Week Two

Fighting in Southeastern Burma has displaced over 500,000 people in Karen State alone. The military junta is losing their war on the people as fierce opposition results in mass casualties. And yet, the response by the regime is to engage in more conflict, particularly in areas which target civilians. The Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM) remains committed to documenting human rights violations to bring urgency to the situation. A response rooted in the voices of the people who have long called for targeted sanctions, a global arms embargo and cross-border aid.

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

HURFOM | June Week One

The military junta has increased their animosity towards civilians as indiscriminate firing and unprovoked attacks claimed the lives of many this week, including women, older adults and children. Even those with disabilities are not spared by the bullets of the regime’s guns. Burma Army soldiers have no military strategy other than to shoot when they declare someone a target. Unfounded accusations and allegations of loyalties to opposition groups are ongoing as dozens are charged and detained without evidence. The rule of law in the courts has lost all credibility, so many dare not even appeal their cases. Without justice, there cannot be any accountability through domestic legal systems.

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

HURFOM | May Week Four

As yet another month ends, the Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM) remains deeply concerned over the country’s fragmented state of affairs, particularly from a human rights perspective. While morale plunges, lawlessness and disregard for the protection of the people are causing a rapid decline in safety and security. The circumstances have made it increasingly difficult for HURFOM to conduct our fieldwork and activities as informers and junta-backed militias target anyone affiliated with the pro-democracy movement.

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

HURFOM | May Week Three

Airstrikes and mortar shelling continue to threaten the stability of local people in Burma. The indiscriminate attacks by the military junta are relentless, even amidst emergency response efforts for those injured in Cyclone Mocha, which has devastated parts of the country. The Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM) remains deeply concerned at the escalation of assaults, especially those which have targeted civilian homes and infrastructure.

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

HURFOM | May Week Two

As the Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM) documents the military junta’s ongoing atrocities and war crimes, impunity only continues to thrive as the international community fails to respond. During the most recent ASEAN summit last week, regional leadership refused to take progressive steps forward to hold the Burma Army accountable.

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

HURFOM | May Week One

The first week of May in Southeastern Burma was met with more air and ground attacks by the Burmese military. The targeting of civilians remains ongoing as lives continue to be caught in the crossfire of artillery shelling and indiscriminate firing into local areas. In addition, junta forces increased their operation of thirty-seven checkpoints along the Tanintharyi Highway and have been committing illegal taxation and extortion against travelers and vehicle drivers, according to local sources and those using this 180-mile-long motor highway.

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

HURFOM | April Week Three

In an ongoing wave of violence, civilians continued to be targets of the military junta. Young people, men, and boys, are regularly rounded up by the soldiers where they are violently questioned, tortured and often killed. Orders to ‘crush the resistance’ from the coup leader, Min Aung Hlaing, continue to fuel unprecedented rates of violence. Fear and the ongoing bombings from the various junta-backed battalions are growing causes of displacement, where over one million are displaced across the country.

Violence did not slow or stop even during the traditional Thingyan holidays. The junta shot at two young people during the annual festivities in Palaw Township, Southern Tanintharyi Region. On April 16, witnesses said that at 9:30 AM, a young man and a woman in their 20s riding a motorcycle were fired at during their mandatory sentry duty. They both are residents of Palaw. The young woman was injured by a bullet shaft in her stomach, and the man was hurt in the head,” according to reports. During Thingyan, the Burma Army soldiers killed at least five people in the Tanintharyi region.

Two young men were confirmed arbitrarily murdered after the Junta forces abducted and accused them as members of local armed resilience members during Water Festival Celebration holidays in Panga village, Thanbyuzayat Township, Mon State. A 35-year-old Social Worker from Panga village said these two young victims were strangers from unknown places, and the Junta Security troops captured them near Panga village on April 18, 2023. They were tortured before they were killed.

HURFOM reporters confirmed the names of these young victims as Maung Arkar Minn, 16, and Aung Myo Htet, 21.  “Where is the rule of law? We are being deprived of our rights,” asked a civilian.

While soldiers continued their murder spree, the Junta’s Correctional Department in Mon State began releasing over 220 prisoners to mark the Burmese traditional New Year festival on April 17 and 18. However, HURFOM confirmed that no political prisoners were removed from the prisons located in Mon State.

“As usual, the junta prioritizes releasing those with drug-related offensives and petty crimes,” according to a young volunteer lawyer in Mawlamyine.

“Hundreds of young political prisoners involved in this revolution have been detained in Kyaikmayaw Prison. All must be freed,” said the mother of a young prisoner.

Unfounded suspicions also encouraged the regime to add more chaos during the festivities by arresting people without cause. Residents in Bilin Township, Mon State, informed HURFOM that at least eight young people from two villages were detained for allegedly being involved in the explosion of two bombs on 16 April, the eve of Burma’s New Year.

On April 16, a homemade bomb exploded near Taung Gyi and Taung Zun Villages. The junta arbitrarily abducted four youths from Taung Gyi Village and another four young villagers from Taung Zun Village. The families and community leaders cannot visit those detained. They are negotiating with the police to see them.

Due to the explosion, the local social response team confirmed that at least four residents, including a 10-year-old boy, were injured. Some buildings were also damaged. With these latest arrested youths, the junta has detained at least 20 people since January 2023.

As of 23 April 2023, due to the recent fighting in Tanintharyi Township, at least 3,500 residents from seven villages are fleeing and in need of assistance, said residents who fled the war. In Karen State, an estimated 3,000 to 4,000 people were displaced, and hundreds of thousands were already made to run. Battles in Myawaddy Township, Karen State, ran from the new armed clashes in Mekanae areas, Brigade No. 6:

“The junta forces were firing long-range rockets into the villages for hours into the night,” according to HURFOM reporters in Karen areas. Emergency response team members said that at least 500 new arrivals were received in Thaton areas of Mon State.

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

HURFOM | Week Two

Despite the annual traditional Thingyan celebrations, typically when the people of Burma participate in various New Year activities and ceremonies, the junta has once again given no reason to celebrate. The brutal presence of the military junta has quieted all plans, and boycotts have seen empty streets where barricades are placed. The violence by the Burma Army continues to escalate. During the last week in Mon State, Karen State and the Tanintharyi region, the Human Rights Foundation of Monland reported on more volatile crimes committed with impunity. Women, children, and the elderly, in particular, were targeted. The situation is dire and requires an immediate response.

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