The confusing situation, especially in the Mon and Rakhine States – where the army has rejected the truce – makes it difficult to attribute responsibility for civilian deaths to rebels or government soldiers
In Myanmar, an estimated 350,000 internally displaced persons living in crowded and sometimes unsanitary conditions face the danger of a widespread outbreak of COVID – 19. Special teams are forming in some of the camps to help provide information and some equipment to prevent a disaster as the country comes to grips with the pandemic
Leaders and members of the militia who hail from Yeinmaw and Hophyat villages and a leader from Lwelkham village, where large amounts of illegal drugs were found, are now being accused of being involving in drug manufacturing and failing to inform authorities
Other officers and soldiers from Myanmar’s government army had also been captured in 2019, Khine Thukha said, while declining to give more detailed information for reasons of security
The Myanmar military and a number of armed groups are present in the region, including the rebel Kachin Independence Army (KIA); the National Democratic Army-Kachin (NDA-K), an armed group that was converted into a Border Guard Force under Myanmar military command; and the Lisu and Rawang militias
Among the 105 organisations seeking the restoration of Internet access in Rakhine and Chin are the Shan State Peace Organisation, Peace Committee of Rakhine State Civilian Organisation, Rakhine Women’s Network, Rakhine Women’s Union and the Rakhine State Peace and Stability Support Team. “In the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, prohibiting people from access to information is a human rights violation
Myanmar views the Rohingya as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and systematically discriminates against them by denying them citizenship, freedom of movement, and access to jobs, health care, and education
The government had imposed a temporary suspension of internet service on these townships and four others in Rakhine state in June 2019, but lifted it for the five in September during peace discussions between the Myanmar military and ethnic armed groups
In Myanmar, an escalation in conflict between ethnic armed groups and government forces over the last year has resulted in an increase in civilian casualties amid mounting allegations of war crimes. With the recent U.N. court ruling that Myanmar must protect Rohingya Muslims from acts of genocide, other ethnic minorities are coming forward to voice their concerns over past documented atrocities
The military opened Tuesday’s court proceedings at a military base in Buthidaung to the public, and family members of the accused can attend, though Zaw Min Tun said there might be limitations on account of instability in the region