Arakan State tops list of junta rights violations last week

By Admin 11 Jun 2024

DMG Newsroom
11 June 2024, Sittwe

The Myanmar regime, which faces defeat militarily in Arakan State, has been attacking innocent civilians and committing widespread human rights violations since the 2021 military coup, especially so in Arakan State of late.

The junta committed nine human rights violations in Arakan State over a one-week period from June 1 to 7, tallying the most human rights abuses out of the 14 regions and states, according to the Network for Human Rights Documentation – Burma.

The regime’s human rights violations took several forms, including airstrikes, shellings, gunfire, arson attacks, arbitrary arrests and use of civilians as human shields, the Network for Human Rights Documentation – Burma said.

“The Arakkha Army (AA) has seized many towns in Arakan State. I think the AA will take control of the remaining towns in Arakan State soon. The regime will likely destroy the entire Arakan State even if it is defeated militarily,” said a human rights activist in Arakan State.

Many civilians were killed or injured in junta airstrikes and artillery attacks on residential areas in Thandwe Township, where fighting between the military and AA is escalating.

Junta airstrikes, drone attacks and shellings targeted Hsinkhaung Village, Thandwe Township, on June 4 and 5 without any fighting in the area, killing 14 civilians and wounding 24 others, the AA said in a statement on June 10.

“The regime carries out the airstrikes on civilian areas without fighting in the area. The regime treats civilians as enemies and attacks them,” said a local woman in Thandwe.

Civilian casualties continue to rise due to airstrikes, shellings and landmines in towns and villages that the regime has lost to the AA but are still under attack by junta forces.