Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner of Human Rights, urged international leaders to address the ongoing human rights crisis in Myanmar. The Southeast Asian country has been under the oppressive rule of a military junta since a coup in February 2021.
The Commissioner stated that the country has since “morphed into a never-ending nightmare” for human rights, particularly condemning a recent military service law passed by the ruling junta. This law has made all men aged 18 to 35 and all women aged 18 to 27 eligible for mandatory conscription into military service, without any possibility of appeal. The new law comes as the military junta faces intense resistance and defeats in their conflicts against freedom fighters.
Türk relayed reports of abductions, threats to communities, and coercion of displaced youth, particularly those of Rohingya ethnicity, to join the military. Accusations of financial incentives, food, and promised citizenship were noted as methods of persuasion used by the military junta.
A damning report by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, alleges that the military junta has killed more than 4,000 people and arrested, charged, or sentenced upwards of 24,000 since its inception. Additionally, The UN reports that 1,658 people have died in the military’s custody, at an alarming rate of more than one person per day in January alone.
Considering the ongoing atrocities, the Human Rights Chief urged the international community to take “targeted action” to alleviate the crisis in Myanmar. He advocated for an imposition of sanctions aimed at disrupting the supply of military arms, jet fuel, and foreign currency to the country.
Full details on this call to action can be found in the original article on JURIST.