Seventy-one women were killed and 44 others were injured in October due to shelling, airstrikes, and other human rights violations by the military council, according to the Burmese Women’s Union (BWU).
The reported figures cover the period from 1 to 31 October. Most of the casualties were caused by airstrikes, according to Ma Wai Wai Hlaing, Joint General Secretary of the BWU.
“They (the military council) are conducting airstrikes on villages, homes, and towns as they have lost control of these areas,” she said.
Ma Wai Wai Hlaing added that there have been instances of killings linked to conflict-related sexual violence, in which civilians were killed due to targeted attacks by the military council.
Ma Wai Wai Hlaing said: “The deaths due to sexual violence rather than injuries and deaths, especially the junta’s targeted rape and murder of women, are the worst.”
The BWU reported 71 female casualties across Myanmar, including 45 deaths from airstrikes that targeted both military and civilian areas indiscriminately, nine deaths from indiscriminate shelling, 10 deaths from arbitrary killings, two deaths from indiscriminate gunshots, one death from a drone attack, and four deaths from sexual violence.
Regarding the junta’s more targeted attacks on civilian womens, Ma Wai Wai Hlaing continued: “The main reason is that they want to oppress and rule the public through fear. Many women are also participating in the current Spring Revolution, among the youth who want to change the system in Myanmar against injustice. In addition, the junta seeks to crush the revolution and maintain control by using the rape and murder of women as a tool to instill fear among the people.”
Since the coup, the military council has continued to commit human rights violations in various ways, she said.
The BWU said women are not only being subjected to sexual violence and other human rights violations but are also losing their lives every day as a result of the junta’s actions.
Sent by NMG