UN accuses Myanmar military of ‘crimes against humanity’
March 17, 2021 · By UCA News reporter for www.ucanews.com
UN accuses Myanmar military of ‘crimes against humanity’
The Myanmar military’s brutal crackdown against peaceful protests probably constitutes crimes against humanity, a UN rights envoy said.
In an address to the UN Human Rights Council on March 11, Tom Andrews said “Myanmar was currently being controlled by a murderous, illegal regime.”
He stressed the junta’s security forces are committing acts of murder, imprisonment and persecution as part of a coordinated campaign in a widespread and systematic manner with the knowledge of the junta’s leadership that is “likely committing crimes against humanity.”
Andrews said credible reports indicate that, as of March 11, Myanmar security forces had murdered at least 70 people.
He added the junta is detaining dozens, sometimes hundreds, every day. As of March 10, the total number of arbitrary arrests and detentions since the Feb. 1 coup had risen beyond 2,000 and the violence against protesters, including violence against people sitting peacefully in their homes, is steadily increasing.
The UN rights envoy has called for a united global response as “the people of Myanmar need not only words of support but supportive action. They need the help of the international community now.”
He said the UN Security Council’s statement on March 10 that expressed deep concern about developments in Myanmar is welcome but “wholly insufficient.”