Civil society organizations issued a report calling on the international community to take stronger steps and actions against the military council that has committed war crimes in Karenni (Kayah) State instead of diplomatic channels.
The report, titled “How Can We Survive in the Future?: Atrocity Crimes in Karenni State ” was published online by CSOs on 6 February.
The report, jointly released by Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG), Kayah State Peace Monitoring Network (KSPMN), Kayan Women’s Organization (KyWO), and Karenni National Women’s Organization (KNWO), urges the imposition of a coordinated global arms embargo on the Myanmar military and sanctioning the supply of aviation fuel to end the deadly airstrikes.
In an online presentation of the report on 8 Feb., Maw Day Myar of KNOW said 70 percent of the internally displaced people in Karenni are women and children.
“Kareeni is still a battlefield of conflict. The first thing we have to do is security. So in addition to sexual violence, we have other challenges to deal with. As mentioned in the report, we also have to think about moving from one place to another. Because we can be exposed to sexual violence when we move from one place to another. Secondly, we can be arrested. If we are arrested and taken to a junta interrogation camp, it is almost certain that we will be exposed to sexual violence there. We are more afraid of that,” said Maw Day Myar.
In addition, Lar Ko Yati of KyWO said in the presentation that the displaced people not only receive enough assistance, but also have a job to support themselves.
“On the other hand, some displaced people’s houses were looted or burned down during their displacement. Therefore, some of them cannot return home. Even if they return, they no longer have their belongings. Not only do they not have food, they don’t even have the basic necessities,” she said.
There have been cases of displaced people being hit by landmines while trying to retrieve some of the food they had left at home.
Lar Ko Yati went on to say that after the military coup, there were 22 landmine accidents in Karenni State, killing four civilians and wounding 70.
Currently, about 40 percent of people in Karenni State have been displaced from their homes; 87 wards and villages have been destroyed.
At least 260 civilians have been arrested, including 33 women, and a total of 115 civilians have been killed by military council troops.
Sent by Kantarawaddy Times.
