Min Aung Hlaing espouses women’s rights, widespread derision follows

By Admin 04 Jul 2024

DMG Newsroom
4 July 2024, Sittwe

Junta boss Min Aung Hlaing this week said his regime “fully protects the rights of Myanmar women in line with the law” and promised to “harshly punish those who commit violence against women.”

Speaking at an event to mark Myanmar Women’s Day on Wednesday, Min Aung Hlaing said “social norms, customs and violence against women that limit their rights and gender equality can contribute to the gender gap.”

Min Aung Hlaing also called for improving the capacity of women in various sectors.

But women in Arakan State have criticised the junta chief’s remarks, saying they are contradicted by his regime’s actions.

“People have witnessed the junta’s atrocities. It has raped and killed women. In Byaing Phyu Village in Sittwe [Township], it raped and killed three women and destroyed their bodies,” said a Sittwe resident.

DMG has learnt that one of the three rape victims in Byaing Phyu village was a mother of two, and another was developmentally disabled.

The junta boss also called for providing appropriate prenatal and postnatal care for women, stressing the need to “keep them healthy and happy during pregnancy and after birth.”

One woman from Mrauk-U Town countered: “The regime has arrested, tortured, raped and killed women including pregnant and disabled women in Arakan State. It is doing one thing to civilians, and saying one another at ceremonies.”

The Burmese Women’s Union said the regime has been violating the rights of women in various ways over the past three years. According to the union, 41 women were killed across the country from May 1 to May 27 alone due to junta airstrikes, rape, shellings, landmines and other acts of violence.