On the 11th of November in Aklui village, Tidim Township, Chin state at around 10:30 PM three junta soldiers wearing the insignia of the 22nd light infantry came to the house of Mrs Nu Mann, her husband, and her one month old child. Under the pretence of asking how many people lived in her home, the soldiers gained entry to the house. The soldiers left but would return four more times over the course of that night. The soldiers made wild accusations about the family having PDF connections, and stole cash and valuables from the family including Mrs Nu Mann’s earrings. They would use these to buy alcohol. On each visit the soldiers would become more intoxicated and more violent. The soldiers beat Mrs Nu Mann’s husband severely each time and they beat and brutally gang raped Mrs Nu Mann repeatedly. At one point they forced her husband to take them to an alcohol store which they ransacked. In an act of psychological torment, the soldiers put a gun in his hands, challenging him to shoot them, knowing that if he tried, the whole family would be killed. The family lost many possessions and approximately 18,000 kyat in cash. Mrs Nu Mann is suffering from haemorrhaging, and difficulty breastfeeding, while her husband has lacerations and injuries to his whole body. As all their money was stolen, the family have not been able to seek medical care for their injuries and cannot seek justice as the military act outside the law. Mrs Nu Mann and her family had no choice but to flee the country.

This incident was mirrored by a similar incident in the same town on the same night. Mrs Anna, seven months pregnant, was home with her husband and three of her young children. They too were visited by three soldiers. It is believed that these soldiers may have been the same as those who assaulted Mrs Nu Mann and her family. The pattern of attack is similar – the soldiers came to the house periodically over the night growing increasingly sadistic. They stole any items of value they could find. They beat Mrs Anna’s husband repeatedly and gang raped Mrs Anna multiple times. One one occasion they brought her husband and three children into the room and forced them to watch. Mrs Anna’s family is suffering severe physical and psychological trauma from the event and like Mrs Nu Mann’s family, they have fled the country out of fear for their lives.

Such incidents, as detestable as they are, are not unusual. The victims of these horrendous attacks had the courage to speak to media and raise awareness of the assaults, but sadly, most of the junta’s victims stay silent out of fear for their lives, and many others are kept in military custody or killed to keep them silent. On the 16th of November nine Chin women, community health workers, were arrested by the junta. Imaged of their defiant faces went viral on social media but for eight of these women, their locations and even whether they are alive or dead is unknown at this time. Sadly, the ninth woman, Ms. Biak Rem Chin a.k.a. Chin Chin (23) was murdered two days later. The military refused to release her body to the family for burial. In a similar incident on the 20th of November in Tong Kok, Rakhine state, the military arrested Cherry Tet Shay, a Chin woman, and high school teacher at the town’s No. 2 High School, for joining the CDM (public sector strike). This case is highly unusual as CDM participants have not faced any military action in Rakhine state until this case. Her whereabouts are still unknown.

These targeted attacks happen alongside large scale attacks on civilian settlements such as the notorious shelling of Thatlang Town in Chin state. Early in November the town was shelled and set alight displacing countless civilians and destroying much of the town. Since then, as some civilians attempted to return and rebuild, the town was struck by the military again, this time demolishing 95 more houses.

These cases cannot be considered the actions of a few bad soldiers within a large military organisation, or as discrete and coincidental oversights in the execution of justice. We must face the truth. The Tatmadaw is 

once again carrying out genocide. Much as they did in Rakhine state against the Rohingya between 2016 and 2018. Today we are witnessing a series of coordinated attacks against Chin victims designed to destroy their crops, raze their homes, and terrorise them, into fleeing their lands. The military is weaponising starvation, exposure, rape, and COVID-19 in order to weaken and ultimately cleanse the Chin people. Tragically, this is a pattern known all too well by the Myanmar people. The military envisage a country of one identity, loyal only to them. Any other identities, cultures, and languages are a threat to the military, and one which they feel it is their duty to eradicate. There are few ethnic minorities in the country who do not have tales of military cruelty and sadism stretching back generations. Night-time raids, the burning of villages, gang rapes, arbitrary executions, and periodic starvation are all tried and tested tools the military uses to strike fear into the hearts of ethnic minorities and pressure them to flee. Civilians know that there is no recourse for arbitrary beatings, detention, rape, torture, or even killings by soldiers. The military operate under their own legal system, and camp commanders functionally do not hold their men accountable for their crimes against civilians. The Tatmadaw is once again engaging in a campaign of violence against specific ethnic groups in border regions.

The pattern of violence is clear and familiar. The heavy attacks on Chin state and against Chin people over the last two months is no coincidence. It is a coordinated effort to push the Chin people off their land and eradicate Chin culture and identity in Myanmar. The Tatmadaw is engaging in a genocide, and we are likely to see similar attacks against other ethnic minorities in the coming months. It is imperative that the international community act now. Recognise the genocide, denounce the military, bring the perpetrators of crimes against humanity to justice. Every day, more innocent Myanmar people are subjected to the depravity and horror of the Tatmadaw with no way to defend themselves, and no way to seek justice. The international community, and the legal apparatus of the UN are their only hope. We must unite to end the military dictatorship, and put an end to the cruel and sadistic abuse of civilians. The ethical duty is clear. No peaceful democratic nation can suffer the Tatmadaw to continue its reign of terror any longer. Oppose the junta. End the coup. Save lives.

Sincerely,

H.E. Dr. Sasa
Union Minister of Ministry of International Cooperation
Spoke Person of Nation Unity Government
Former Special Envoy to United Nations