A plan to collect the list of women and children killed in Karen State remains difficult. The violations of human rights after the military coup are becoming more severe, the Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG) told the Karen Information Center (KIC).
According to the infographics released by the Ministry of Women, Youth and Children Affairs (MOWYCA) under the National Unity Government (NUG), the total number of deaths in Karen State reached 45—20 females, 14 youths and 11 children—from February, 2021 to 1 March, 2023.
Regarding the question of whether the death toll in Karen State following the military coup may be higher than the figures released by the MOWYCA or not. It is difficult to say the exact number as all the cases are not within its reach, the KHRG said.
“Due to ongoing armed conflicts, the public in Karen State lose their education and health opportunities. The violations of basic human rights are terrible,” said Saw Nanda Su, Spokesperson of the KHRG.
“We cannot reveal the number of women, youths and children killed by the military council’s artillery shelling and airstrikes as every incident is not within our reach. Due to the ongoing armed conflicts, the IDPs face a lot of difficulties. The civilian casualties are reported every day,” Saw Nanda Su said.
Especially, due to the military council’s heavy shelling and airstrikes in the Karen National Union (KNU)-controlled territories—Hpapun, Thaton and Dupalaryar District— which see the intense fighting between the military council and a combined force of the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and the PDFs, the number of women, youths and children deaths are higher, Saw Nanda Su continued.
A refugee from Hpapun District told the KIC: “One villager was killed in the battle between the military council and ethnic armed organization in 2021. I fled my village as I didn’t dare to stay there. At the beginning, I stayed in the forest. Soon, many villagers from a hilly village beside my village were killed by the military’s airstrike. The villagers were unable to flee as the military planted landmines around the village.”
The KHRG is constantly working to record the military council’s violations of human rights. The KHRG is working to seek justice, enable the military council which is committing big crimes to take responsibility and accountability and end impunity, the spokesperson said.
According to the statement by the NUG’s Human Rights Affairs Ministry on 15 March, the junta committed 64 mass killings (the killings of five civilians and above) from 2021 to 13 March, 2023.
The total number of civilian deaths hit 766 civilians including 482 men and 78 women. International community is required to take effective and swift actions against those involved in such terrible killings.
The ministry calls on the international community to provide aid for the people who are experiencing armed conflicts.
Sent by Nant San Htee (KIC)