Nearly 400 women killed by regime in 2023: Burmese Women’s Union

By Admin 04 Jan 2024

DMG Newsroom
4 January 2024, Sittwe

A total of 392 women died at the hands of Myanmar’s military regime in 2023, the Burmese Women’s Union (BWU) said in a report released on Wednesday. A total of 541 women were arrested last year and 318 of them were handed prison sentences, according to the report.

The majority of victims were killed by artillery strikes, bombing raids or beating after being detained by junta forces, according to the BWU.

“Some women were killed by stray bullets. Some were burnt alive. Women have psychological trauma as junta soldiers would arrest women, beat and gang-rape during their raids on villages,” said joint secretary Daw Wai Wai of BWU.

According to the BWU, a total of 705 women have died at the hands of the regime since the 2021 coup. A total of 3,271 women were arrested, 750 of whom have been given prison sentences.

Junta arrests of women and their deaths have increased year after year, said the BWU, which called on the international community to take harsh action against the regime.

Civilian casualties, including women and pregnant women, have been on the increase in Arakan State due to indiscriminate artillery attacks and bombing raids by the regime. According to a DMG tally, a total of 16 women were killed and 67 others were injured since renewed fighting broke out in Arakan State on November 13.

“The military council stepped up its arrests of women over their alleged ties to terrorist organisations. The regime is using women as a weapon,” said a women’s rights activist from Arakan State.

The resistance movement has gained considerable momentum over the past three years, and the regime is gradually losing control of territory, particularly in areas tied to the Three Brotherhood Alliance’s “Operation 1027”.