HRN has made an oral statement at the 54th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva outlining the horrific crimes and human rights abuses carried out by Myanmar’s junta and military. We implore states such as Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, and others to end all financial links between companies or banks in their jurisdiction that can financially support Myanmar’s junta or military in its crimes. A transcript of the statement is below the video.
Thank you, Mr. Vice President.
In August, Myanmar’s junta postponed the promised election and extended its illegitimate rule for the fourth time.
As has been repeated many times, since the coup the military has indiscriminately, disproportionately, and intentionally targeted civilians with hundreds of bombings and artillery strikes, including of villages, hospitals, schools, and places of worship, such as the bombing last April that killed over 160 civilians in Pa Zi Gyi village and the attack on Toke Gyi village just over a week ago, where soldiers shot seven residents dead, burned 45 homes, and beat, mutilated, and burned to death a disabled man unable to flee.
The military has burned over 70,000 homes, displaced over 1.6 million people, and committed mass executions and rampant rape and sexual violence of women and children. There were more than twice as many attacks in the coup’s second year as the first, and they have only increased since then.
The people of Myanmar cannot afford for this reign of terror to continue, and states must do more to cut off the financial and material ability of the military to target and destroy its civilian population. In particular, businesses and banks in Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, and other states continue to have financial links that can support the junta and military’s crimes, and we implore these states to end this enabling support.
Thank you.