Min Aung Hlaing denies air raids, arson targeting civilians

By DMG 21 Aug 2022

DMG Newsroom
20 August 2022, Sittwe

Junta chief Min Aung Hlaing has denied that his troops have carried out air raids and arson attacks on civilian homes and settlements, pushing back against accusations made by the United Nations special envoy to Myanmar in her first visit to the country this week.

In a meeting with the regime leader on Wednesday, the UN special envoy Noeleen Heyzer “called for immediate and specific de-escalation steps including ending aerial bombing and the burning of civilian houses and infrastructure,” according to a statement issued by Heyzer following her discussions with the regime leader.

The junta’s information team responded on Friday, claiming that the UN special envoy’s allegations were untrue.

“We are just targeting the location of the insurgents who attack security forces and counter them,” Min Aung Hlaing was quoted as saying in state media. “We will never initiate the attack if there is no attack on us. And there is no government and country in the world that accepts armed attacks. I categorically reject the allegation of burning the villages and houses of the people.”

Veteran Arakanese politician U Pe Than said the military has historically never admitted to the war crimes and grave human rights violations that it has been credibly accused of for decades.

“If they want to prove that they did not commit such crimes, they just need to allow an independent, international investigative commission to come into Myanmar. That would be the best answer,” he said.

Heyzer also urged Min Aung Hlaing “to de-escalate the violence, address the multidimensional crisis and advance unfettered humanitarian assistance free of discrimination to all people in need,” according to the post-meeting statement.

“The people of Myanmar have the right to democracy and self-determination free from fear and want, which will only be possible by the good will and efforts of all stakeholders in an inclusive process,” the statement added.

“Following the recent death sentences carried out against pro-democracy activists that the United Nations has strongly condemned, the Special Envoy directly urged the Senior General [Min Aung Hlaing] to impose a moratorium on all future executions,” said the statement. “She also reiterated the United Nations Secretary-General’s call for the release of all political prisoners.”

The regime’s Information Team released what it purported to be a transcript of the discussion between Min Aung Hlaing and Heyzer, concluding with an “exclusive explanation” of its reason for doing so.

“The Press Statement of the Special Envoy was based on the misinformation provided by the illegal and terrorist organizations in the country and abroad without reflecting the comprehensive explanation of Myanmar’s side with facts, evidence and the actual incidents that had happened in reality,” said the explanation.

“The discussion of the two sides is released because of the one-sided press statement made by the Special Envoy without reflecting the comprehensive explanation of the Myanmar side. Such a statement can cause obstacles to the constructive discussions/dialogue between the two sides,” it added.

“The regime, as usual, will deny any violence it has committed against civilians,” said political analyst U Than Soe Naing. “My view is that the special envoy’s description of the situation on the ground in Myanmar in her report is fair enough.”

The UN used the occasion of World Humanitarian Day, marked annually on August 19, to urge an end to violence against civilians, including humanitarian aid workers, in Myanmar’s conflict zones.

“Civilians should never be a target and humanitarian workers in Myanmar must be allowed to do their jobs free from restrictions and harassment, in line with all the protections afforded to them under international law,” said Ramanathan Balakrishnan, the UN humanitarian coordinator in Myanmar, in a statement on Friday.