1st February marks second anniversary of Myanmar’s brutal military regime. Nearly 3,000 people killed, 1.5 million internally displaced, more than 13,000 detained in inhumane conditions, and at least 100 sentenced to death.
The Myanmar military continues to arbitrarily arrest, torture and murder people with impunity two years after it seized power, Amnesty International has said, as it called for increased global action and solidarity .
Since the 2021 coup, nearly 3,000 people have been killed, 1.5 million have been internally displaced, more than 13,000 are still detained in inhumane conditions, and four people are known to have been executed, while at least 100 have been sentenced to death. In addition to this, 7.8 million children are not in school.
The military’s onslaught against anyone who is suspected to oppose its rule has caused widespread fear and led to grave human rights violations – including the use of air and ground attacks against civilians.
Ming Yu Hah, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for Campaigns, said: “There is no denying that the military is able to carry out its nationwide assault on human rights because of the shockingly inadequate global response to this crisis, which risks being forgotten – we can’t let that happen.
“This anniversary should highlight the need for urgent global action from countries around the world, and the Association for Southeast Asian Nations needs to protect the people of Myanmar who remain under daily siege from the military.
“Speaking up for those in Myanmar who risk lengthy jail sentences, torture and death in custody for expressing peaceful defiance is not a trivial gesture. Solidarity has never been more important, as it can raise people’s spirits and show them they are not alone in their darkest hour.
“While many governments have heeded calls to action, it is not yet enough to stop the military’s grave violations. The international community cannot let another day pass, let alone another two years, before taking additional effective steps to stop the military’s atrocities.”
