Myanmar: UN investigators find evidence of “dramatic increase” in war crimes by military

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – The United Nations’ Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM) reported Tuesday that its investigators have found a “dramatic increase” in war crimes in Myanmar, including mass executions, sexual violence, and widespread destruction of residential areas, i24News reports.

Wracked by a troubled history of political instability and war, south-east Asian Myanmar has been subjected to a further massive wave of violence since the 2021 military coup by the Buddhist nationalist Burmese “Tatmadaw” army which deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s government and launched a deadly crackdown on dissenters, including Christians.

In a statement about its findings, the IIMM says it has evidence that the Tatmadaw military and allied armed groups are “committing increasingly frequent and brazen war crimes” against civilians.

“Every loss of life in Myanmar is tragic, but the devastation caused to whole communities through aerial bombardments and village burnings is particularly shocking,” IIMM chief Nicholas Koumjian said in the statement.

“Our evidence points to a dramatic increase in war crimes and crimes against humanity in the country, with widespread and systematic attacks against civilians, and we are building case files that can be used by courts to hold individual perpetrators responsible,” Koumijan said.

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