On the 6th of January, we once again saw the brutality and cruelty of the military on full display. Eight civilians were travelling from Kitlueng to Lung Thlaw village, while a ninth civilian was travelling from Ka Ce to Kitlueng to buy fuel. All nine civilians were arrested by the junta for no reason and held without charge. The following day, the military arrested a further two civilians without cause or justification. 

The youngest of those arrested was only 13 years old, and despite this, the military have murdered them all in cold blood. The bodies of ten of the civilians were found dumped by the military the next day. This case shows the military’s disregard for and, indeed contempt for civilian life. Without cause or provocation soldiers around the country arrest, rape, torture, and murder innocent civilians every day. Worse yet, the frequency and severity of their barbaric acts has increased. A recent case in Salin Gyi, Sagaing, showed the military firing machine guns and mortar shells indiscriminately into civilian areas and then torturing the survivors before ultimately burning them alive. On Christmas Eve the military burned more than thirty civilians in Hpruso, Karenni state. 

The number of incidents and their victims is beyond counting. And the pattern is clear. The military have begun abusing and killing larger and larger groups of victims at a time. As they grow more desperate, they seek to exact more tortuous and heinous vengeance from the innocent civilian population. Fire as an instrument of torture and murder is becoming more frequent, as are the reports of children being tortured and murdered. The junta shows no signs of shame, and certainly no intention of relinquishing their grip on the nation. Their foot soldiers and lackeys likewise refuse to accept that the tide has turned against them and are redoubling their efforts to terrorise and subjugate the people through displays of indiscriminate violence and slaughter. 

For the sake of the people of Myanmar, it is imperative that the international community take immediate action to put an end to the madness and massacres, and bring those responsible for their abhorrent crimes to justice without delay.

Sincerely,

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