Written by: Angela Huang, USCB Intern
Feature Photo:
Woman with sleepy baby at IDP camp in Northern Shan state
Tim Jenner/IRC
Burma has long been marked by constant warring and human rights abuses by the Burmese military (Tatmadaw) and various ethnic armed groups. Shan State, the largest and most diverse state in the country, is no exception; its population consists of a vast patchwork of different ethnicities. Unfortunately, tensions amidst ethnic groups and the Burma Army – the very army responsible for the February 1st coup – have prevailed for decades.
As of 2021, the Burmese military has exacerbated the violence in Shan State. On March 21, the military vowed retribution after the death of four soldiers; subsequently, 1,500 villagers in Pekon township fled their homes. Those who did not escape were “tortured until they were unconscious and deaf during interrogation.” On protestors, the military utilized tear gas, rubber bullets, and live rounds. At that point, a little over a month after the military had taken power, over 240 protesters had already died. The military also actively utilized artillery; in August, after fighting with the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) in northern Shan State, the military struck a 300-person village with three shells. In the same month, four civilians, including a 10-year-old child, were killed in Lashio township after another shelling by military troops. One civilian said, “Many civilians have been killed by the shelling. An entire family was killed in a blast two days ago. We are living in fear, as the shelling comes out of nowhere. We are all terrified by the artillery blasts.”
Photo: Shwe Phee Myay
In January, the military’s tendency to use extreme violence against civilians and resistance forces has not changed, causing the total Shan State IDP number to reach over 50,000. On January 5th, two young girls, ages 1 and 4, were injured by artillery fire in Namkham. The military is known to indiscriminately use artillery fire against civilians, exacerbated by fighting between the military and armed groups. On January 12, fighting erupted between the military and the Ta’Ang National Liberation Army also in Namkham, northern Shan State. Reports stated that the military fired heavy artillery that landed in Kaung Wine and Man Lwei villages. Indirect methods of violence, such as landmines, are also prevalent. Landmines were placed around Chinese-backed oil and gas pipelines by military soldiers, leaving nearby villagers desperate and in fear, unable to forage for food or resources. On January 5th, three civilians looking for buffalo were injured and hospitalized after stepping on a landmine.
The many ethnic groups living in Shan State have also faced widespread discrimination – amongst themselves, and from the military. Despite the diversity within Burmese states, there is much prejudice. An interview of a thirty-seven-year-old Thi Zinh (anonymous), who grew up in Shan State, spoke about the obvious prejudice and mistrust that exist between different ethnicities. “Belonging to two ethnic groups, I was always mocked at school. The Bamars wouldn’t let me be in their group, and the Kachins wouldn’t let me be in theirs… The fear, the lack of trust and the divisions that exist between ethnic groups are very real, and stem from a very early age.” In Burma, a few specific ethnic groups have been targeted, including the Palaung ethnic group (also known as Ta’ang) that mainly resides in Shan State. In 2019, the number of documented human rights abuses in predominantly Palaung areas made up nearly all of the reported abuses in Shan State. According to the Ta’ang Women’s Organization (TWO), “The abuses include people who were killed by shelling of villages, death and injuries caused by landmines, and forcing civilians to act as porters.” The military has continually targeted them. For example, in August 2020, the Burma Army was accused of murdering three ethnic villagers. Despite the military denying responsibility, locals are highly skeptical. According to Lue Po Polar of the TWO, “If they were interrogating the victims as suspects, they should not have brutally tortured and killed them…” Unfortunately, mindless widespread murder is now commonplace by soldiers of the military.
Photo: Shan News
As more and more are displaced or killed, the international community must immediately enforce targeted sanctions on the illegal government. They must enforce restrictions against the illegal government, including pushing for a global arms embargo, recognizing the National Unity Government, and establishing no-fly zones. They must also avoid official encounters with junta leaders at all costs to avoid the possibility of legitimizing the illegal government. Doing otherwise would imply acceptance of the junta’s mass human rights violations and horrific misdeeds. In times such as these, humanitarian aid is much needed to aid those fleeing over borders to escape the cruelty of the junta. Condemning the junta’s brutality is no longer sufficient. Justice must be provided for the victims and their families! The junta must be held accountable for their actions!
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