Myanmar Military Engaged in Widespread Abuses: UN Human Rights Chief

GENEVA (AA) – The international community must take immediate measures to stem the spiral of violence in Myanmar, where the military has engaged in widespread human rights violations and abuses, the UN human rights chief has said.

“The military has engaged in systematic and widespread human rights violations and abuses – some of which may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity,” UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said in a new report.

Bachelet released the report for the 49th session of the UN Human Rights Council, in which she said Myanmar’s military and security forces have shown a flagrant disregard for human life, bombarding populated areas with airstrikes and heavy weapons.

They have deliberately targeted civilians, many of whom have been shot in the head, burned to death, arbitrarily arrested, tortured, or used as human shields, she said in a statement on the report.

The report covers the period since the Feb. 1, 2021 military takeover and is based on interviews with over 155 victims, witnesses and advocates.

Bachelet said their accounts were corroborated with satellite imagery, verified multimedia files and credible open-source information.

Citing the determination of Myanmar’s people in their opposition to the coup, Bachelet called on the international community to do all it can to resolve the crisis and hold perpetrators of gross violations of international human rights law accountable.