According to women’s rights activists and a Mon human rights group, military junta troops have committed sexual violence following their offensives in the Gyaing River area on the Mon-Karen border.
On 25 April, a joint military column of the junta’s Infantry Battalion 81 stationed in Zar Thar Pyin and the Karen Border Guard Force (BGF) entered the Gyaing River area and advanced into the villages of Kawt Bein and Kawt Swei via waterways.
Nai Aue Mon, spokesperson of the Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM), claimed that the junta troops committed sexual violence after entering the area, but the victims were unable to speak out.
“We still don’t have exact information about how many people were victimized. Another problem is that the victims themselves are not willing to talk about it. So far we have only heard of two cases. But there could be more. We are still investigating. The perpetrators are soldiers from a battalion under the Southeast Command,” said Nai Aue Mon.
She added: “As for these cases, we have not seen any cooperation from the villagers. Maybe they don’t want to talk about sexual matters. Or they are afraid of possible consequences in the village. It is also unclear how the sexual violence happened.”
Nai Aue Mon said that the junta has also threatened the villagers not to disclose information about the sexual violence committed.
When the junta troops entered the Gyaing River area, they shot dead a woman and three men from Kawt Bein and Kawt Palaing villages, according to local sources.
The junta has stepped up its military offensive in the Gyaing River area since the allied resistance forces attacked and captured the Kawt Bein police station on 24 March.
The junta forces stationed in the villages have continuously committed human rights violations, including burning houses, looting valuables, arresting and torturing innocent civilians and killings, HURFOM said.
After losing the Kawt Bein police station, the junta has launched indiscriminate airstrikes and artillery shelling in the Gyaing River region, according to locals.
The junta’s indiscriminate attacks have killed more than 30 civilians and injured many more in the area in over a month.
In addition, over 400 houses, including monasteries, have been burned down by the junta’s attacks.
More than 30,000 people have been displaced in the Gyaing River region due to the armed clashes and the junta’s ongoing air and naval attacks.
Sent by IMNA.