Human Rights Violations | ISP-Myanmar

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Human Rights Violations

issue:11, 29 Jul 2022

Myanmar Crisis: Implications of Death Sentences Inseparable from Transitional Justice

The junta’s practice of executing those under politically motivated death sentences is the latest indication that ASEAN’s push for a ‘return to normalcy’ in Myanmar is over. Although the new trajectory of the country is still vague, it is certain that the ‘old normal’ – of problem definition and resolution within Myanmar politics – can no longer work to solve the current crises.

issue:23, 8 Jun 2022

209 People Sentenced to Death or Life in Prison

In the aftermath of the military coup between February 1, 2021 and May 31, 2022, a total of 209 people have been sentenced to death or life in prison, as well as a combination of death sentence and life imprisonment in connection with anti-military activities. Of this total, 117 were sentenced to death after their arrest or sentenced to death after warrants issued for them, six were sentenced to life imprisonment and death after their arrest, 86 were sentenced to life in prison after their arrest. Out of 209 who are facing these most severe penalties, 202 are from Yangon Region, accounting for 96.7 percent of the total; the remaining seven are from Ayeyarwady Region, accounting for 3.3 percent of the total. Among those who were sentenced to death after the arrest, two are boys under the age of 18.

issue:17, 4 May 2022

Repression of Journalists in Myanmar Breaks 30-Year Record

May 3 marked World Press Freedom Day. Since the 2021 military coup in Myanmar, the State Administration Council (SAC) has gone to great lengths to crack down on independent news organizations by raiding editorial offices, arresting or shooting journalists as they attempt to report on protests across the country, conducting violent raids on journalists’ homes, and making arbitrary arrests.

issue:14, 22 Apr 2022

Political Prisoners Account for Only 8% of 57,000 Released on Amnesty

According to records from the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), the State Administration Council (SAC) arrested a total of 13,293 people nationwide on suspicion of treasonous, anti-coup activities; these arrests were made between February 1, 2021 and April 18, 2022. March and April 2021 saw the highest number of arrests by the SAC - 2022 continues to see further arrests on the same anti-military basis. These figures are taken from the currently available data; the true figures may be higher.

issue:11, 1 Apr 2022

Over 13,000 People Detained Nationwide

At least 13,001 people were arrested across the country between February 1, 2021, and March 28, 2022. Those arrested included members of the National League for Democracy (NLD), the Union Election Commission, political activists, and anti-coup protesters. Approximately 3,040 have been released so far; 891 have been sentenced, but at least 9,070 are still being held without charge. A statement from the State Administration Council (SAC) claimed that over 11,000 people have been arrested, and stand accused of committing acts of violence. This figure was disclosed at a press conference on January 17, 2022, but no further figures have been disclosed at subsequent press conferences.

issue:08, 20 Mar 2022

Over 500 Homes and Buildings Confiscated Nationwide

As of March 7, 2022, the State Administration Council (SAC) has confiscated at least 531 homes and buildings (in connection with anti-military activities) in the aftermath of the military coup, according to data compiled by ISP-Myanmar, as well as a separate dataset compiled by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP). Most of the seizures took place in the Sagaing Region, with at least 135 units being seized. Meanwhile, 116 units in the Yangon Region, 85 units in the Mandalay Region, 47 units in the Ayeyarwady Region, and 39 units in the Magway Region were also seized, according to reports. These figures are only based on presently available data, and thus the actual figures may be much higher.

issue:06, 20 Feb 2022

Over 9,000 People Detained

At least 12,000 people have been arrested across the country between February 1, 2021, and February 16, 2022, including members of the National League for Democracy, the Union Election Commission, political activists, and anti-coup protesters. Only about 3,000 have been released so far, while at least 9,000 remain in detention. A statement from the State Administration Council said that more than 11,000 people have been arrested and accused of committing acts of violence.

issue:62, 20 Dec 2021

The Death Toll

After the military staged a coup d’état on February 1, 2021, violent crackdowns and injuries inflicted by the State Administration Council (SAC) have resulted in a total civilian death toll of at least 1,293 as of November 25. An independent organization, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), collected personal data of 1,224 people as of November 25, although there may be many more who are not yet on this list. At the same time, SAC released their version of the death toll. According to their reported data, there were 1,564 deaths from February 1 to November 16, 2021. SAC reported that among them: 406 were accused of being military informants and killed; 253 were members of the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) or their family member; 228 deaths were caused by other reasons; 198 were general administration department staff from the township and village levels; 192 deaths were caused by crackdowns during protests; 93 were SAC police; 69 deaths were caused by bombings; 38 were civil servants; and 12 were monks. Please note that this data is from a statement by the SAC but not verified by independent organizations. According to reports by the National Unity Government (NUG), clashes and conflicts between June 1, 2021 and November 6, 2021, resulted in 908 civilian deaths and 2,941 deaths of regime forces. Please note that this data has also not been verified by independent organizations.

issue:60, 18 Dec 2021

Detention and Imprisonment After the Military Coup

What Matters No. 60 (This article is a translation of the original Burmese language version that ISP-Myanmar posted on its Facebook page on November 16, 2021.) After the military staged a coup d’état on February 1, 2021, more than 10,143 people have been arrested nationwide as of November 13. Among these, 7,251 are still in […]

issue:02, 12 Dec 2021

Terrify without Making a Sound, Strike without Being Seen

Today, 10 December, a nationwide silent strike was launched. Photographic records indicate strong public participation and widespread awareness of the strike. The strike’s slogan is “We are being denied basic Human Rights; Occupy through the Revolution!”

issue:46, 9 Sep 2021

Detention and Imprisonment After the Military Coup

After the military staged a coup d’état on February 1, 2021, more than 7,800 people were arrested nationwide as of September 4, 2021. Among these, 6,230 remain in custody. Students and civilians who took part in the mass movement against the State Administration Council (SAC) were the majority of those arrested. Staff who joined the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) and supporters of CDM, artists, celebrities, media personnel as well as doctors, nurses, and medical personnel were also detained. As of now, 47 doctors have been detained, and the SAC is also arresting volunteer doctors who have been providing medical care during the latest wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Section 505A of the Penal Code is widely used to bring charges against the detained and those who have warrants issued against them. Compared to the figures detailed in the previous What Matters No. 41 on August 25, 2021, the number of detainees increased by more than 436 people.

issue:42, 29 Aug 2021

Victims of Violence (February to August 25, 2021)

As of August 25, 2021, a total of at least 1,019 civilians have lost their lives as a direct result of violent crackdowns, and injuries inflicted during arrests, by State Administration Council’s (SAC’s) forces. Many more were injured, and SAC’s forces committed serious human rights violations. The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) collected data on the causes of the deaths of 951 people which were reported by August 25, 2021, with many more cases likely to be added to this list at a later date.

issue:41, 27 Aug 2021

Detention and Imprisonment After the Military Coup

After the military staged a coup d’état on February 1, 2021, more than 7,000 people were arrested nationwide as of August 23, 2021. Among these, 5,821 remain in custody.

issue:35, 3 Jul 2021

Victims of violent crackdowns (From February 1 to July 1, 2021)

Following the February 1, 2021, coup d’état, mass protests erupted across Myanmar. Because of the SAC-led crackdowns on mass protests and injuries inflicted on people held in detention centers, as of July 1, 2021, there have been at least 885 civilian deaths. Moreover, many more people received injuries. the state security forces continued to commit ongoing and widespread violations of human rights and human dignity. As of July 1, the AAPP recorded 817 deaths, but there are likely many more.

issue:20, 9 May 2021

Victims of violent crackdowns (From February 1 to April 15, 2021)

(The original Burmese version was published on the ISP-Myanmar Facebook page on April 16, 2021.) ∎ Key findings in brief Following the February 1, 2021, military coup d’état, mass protests have erupted across Myanmar. Because of the violent crackdowns against the mass protests, and injuries inflicted during the custody in the detention centers, as of April 15, 2021, there have been at least 726 civilian casualties. Moreover, many more were injured, and serious violation of human rights and human […]