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Junta’s administrators disrupt “16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence”

HURFOM: November 25 to December 10 marks the “16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence” campaign organized by women in Mon State.

This is an annual initiative, but an activist involved in the effort told HURFOM that the junta-appointed Administrators in some villages of Thanbyuzayat Township, Mon State have been actively disrupting the campaign this year.

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Monthly Overview:
Human Rights Situation in Mon State, Karen State, and Tanintharyi Region | December 2022

Indiscriminate Firing, Mortar Shelling and Ongoing Abductions by the Military Junta Force Thousands of Civilians in Southeastern Burma to Flee

HURFOM: Over the last twelve months, the Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM) has continued to document the widespread and systematic atrocities perpetrated against innocent civilians by the Burma Army. As the year 2022 ends, HURFOM has concluded that the human rights situation has shown no improvement based on our findings and analysis. The military has resorted to violence to advance its authoritarian agenda, even at the cost of innocent lives. This includes more abductions, torture and conflict-related sexual violence.

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

Fourth Week of December 2022

HURFOM: Despite the Christmas holidays, the Burma Army has not slowed its offensives. The targeting of civilians continues in Southeastern Burma and across the country. The Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM) has closely monitored the scaled-up atrocities perpetrated against unarmed residents. Offensives remain unrelenting, and the lives of the most vulnerable are increasingly at risk amid food shortages and freedom of movement restrictions.

The military junta launched a coup two years ago and denied the results of the 2020 election by dubiously claiming significant mistakes with the voter list. The junta is planning to hold an election in 2023. The Union Election Committee, which is controlled by the military, has been collecting names for a new voters’ list via the General Administration Department (GAD). According to sources within the GAD, there is little confidence the new voter list will be accurate because of corruption within the Immigration Department which has been tasked to make national registration cards and a household list of voters. Some names hold two or three different ID cards. “If corruption cannot be eliminated, the voter list won’t be accurate,” said a source close to the township GAD.

It is worth noting that the junta has also been putting pressure on small or ethnic political parties. The UEC recently informed all political parties of an amendment driven by the junta establishing new membership numbers and requiring parties to pay a fee to the UEC.

“It has been a long time since they’ve checked to see if the people in the constituency and those on the household list are the same. Many have different household lists and don’t live in the township they are registered to vote in.”

Clashes throughout the region threaten instability as hopes for a return to normalcy feels all the more distant. Conflict broke out in Padauk-Gyi Village, Thayetchaung Township, Dawei. The junta burned seven houses, opened fire with artillery weapons, and killed a young villager. On December 18 at 10 AM, fighting broke out between the local People’s Defence Forces and the junta in Padauk-Gyii Village. According to the reporters, the military council army burned seven houses and two motorcycles. In the evening after the battle, the junta and their backed militias entered the road leading to the hot springs in Pe-Dak village. A witness said they fired indiscriminately with their guns. A young man was hit in the chest. He bled to death. Due to these new armed conflicts, at least 300 families and villagers are fleeing nearby areas who fear the junta’s indiscriminate gunfire.

Meanwhile, the abductions are creating a growing atmosphere of fear. In Kaw Dut village, Ye Township, Mon State, two young people were arbitrarily arrested by the junta at 8 PM on December 20: “The junta is patrolling our village day and night. There are no People’s Defense Force soldiers here. But two young villagers, our friends, who were using their phones at the public rest house, were abducted. They did nothing wrong. Their motorbike was also seized,” according to a close friend of one of the detainees. They were sent to the Lamine Police Station, a neighboring Town of Kaw Dut village, Northern Ye Mon State. The junta frequently demands ransoms for the release of their loved ones. Human lives should not have a price tag attached to them. They must be granted their universal human rights to live with dignity and peace.

2,000 villagers flee their homes in Pu Law

HURFOM: The military council launched a heavy armed attack in Pu Law Township, Myeik District, Tenasserim Division in the first week of December, 2022.  In response 2,000 villagers from 20 villages fled their homes and have been unable to return.

The military also launched artillery attacks on nearby  villages. 

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Military junta bans villagers from using social media to share certain news incidents

HURFOM: Villagers told HURFOM that the military junta is strongly threatening them not to share news related to armed clashes, bomb explosions or any news related to the revolution against the coup, via their social media accounts.

Those who do share reports of such incidents will be arrested and punished by the military junta.

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Junta prepares to crack down on civil society sector in Mawlamyine

HURFOM: Civil society organizations are preparing for a crackdown in the coming weeks  by the military  junta who will be looking to see if they have a  valid registration.

“Our registration has expired. The officials called us to extend the registration. But we have some difficulties and haven’t done it yet. Now we dare not do anything,” said an official from Mawlamyine based, youth empowerment organization.

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Junta’s troop arrests and extorts young people

HURFOM: In Kaw Dut village, Ye Township, Mon State, two young people were arrested by the junta’s security forces at about 8 pm.

“The junta’s forces are patrolling in our village day and night, at the moment. Two young people who were using their mobile phones at the public rest house were arrested last night. They did nothing wrong but their motorbike was also seized. They were sent to the Lamine Police Station. One was released while another one was sent to the Ye Police Station. I’ve heard that both of them were beaten,” said a villager.

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Junta’s soldiers’ rape pregnant daughter and mother in Ye

HURFOM: Mid-day on December 11, 2022, a daughter and mother who worked in a rubber plantation located between San Pya and Hnin Zone villages, Ye Township, Mon State were both raped by Burmese soldiers.

The rape victims lived with the daughter’s husband at the plantation and the daughter was pregnant.

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Junta’s voter list will not be accurate due to corruption

HURFOM: The military junta launched a coup in February 2020 denying the results of the 2020 election, by dubiously claiming there were major mistakes with the voter list.

The junta is  now planning to hold an election in 2023 and the Union Election Commission (UEC), which is controlled by the military, has been collecting names for a new voters’ list via the General Administration Department (GAD).

According to sources within the GAD, there is little confidence a new voters list will be accurate, because of corruption within the Immigration Department who have been tasked to make the  national registration cards (NRC or ID card) and a household list of voters.

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UEC applies pressure on small political parties

HURFOM: The military junta is preparing to hold an election in 2023 and the junta-controlled Union Election Commission (UEC) have put pressure on small or ethnic political parties, according to the political sources.

The UEC recently informed all political parties of an amendment driven by the junta  establishing new membership numbers within political parties,  and requiring parties to pay a fee to the UEC.

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