‘Dramatic increase' in Myanmar war crimes: UN Inquiry
A striking escalation in war crimes perpetrated by Myanmar's military, encompassing acts such as civilian bombings, has been revealed in a new report released by a team of United Nations investigators on Tuesday.
The study, conducted by the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM) and covering the period spanning July 2022 to June 2023, underscores that substantial evidence points to a significant uptick in combat-related war crimes committed by the Myanmar military and affiliated militias. These acts, characterized by their heightened frequency and audacity, encompass three distinct categories.
One of these categories encompasses the indiscriminate or disproportional targeting of civilians through bombing raids, alongside the deliberate incineration of civilian residences and structures, at times culminating in the total annihilation of entire villages.
Furthermore, the report highlights instances of the "murder of civilians or combatants in custody during military operations."
Nicholas Koumjian, the head of IIMM, stated, 'Our findings indicate a notable surge in war crimes and crimes against humanity within the nation, featuring widespread and systematic assaults on civilians. We are in the process of compiling comprehensive case dossiers that can serve as a foundation for legal proceedings against individual perpetrators.'
In contrast, the ruling junta has consistently denied the occurrence of atrocities, asserting its actions are aimed at countering terrorist activities.
While the military has sought to justify its airstrikes as directed at military targets, UN investigators contend that the Myanmar military "either knew or should have known" that a significant civilian population was in close proximity to the purported targets during these attacks.
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