Myanmar Spring Chronicle – September 06 Scenes
Published by MoeMaKa on September 07, 2023
The Grim Post-Coup Reality: A Surge in Killings
In the midst of the turbulent post-coup period in Myanmar, one cannot help but be overwhelmed by the distressing reports of daily killings. Whether one peruses the news in the morning or before retiring for the night, stories of multiple individuals losing their lives, accounts of scores of civilians falling victim, and tragic incidents claiming entire families, including children, the elderly, and women, continue to haunt our screens. These tragic narratives are unfolding in various regions, including Pakokku District, Sagaing Region, Karen State, and central Myanmar’s Bago Region. These accounts shed light on a series of massacres that have come to define the past several months.
The majority of these killings can be attributed to armed members of the coup military, with a few being carried out by armed groups fighting against the dictatorial regime. It is reasonable to assert that these killings began when the coup army employed firearms and live ammunition to suppress protests, erecting barricades and sandbag barriers around cities and neighborhoods. Subsequently, many youths ventured into ethnic armed regions to receive military training and procure weapons, subsequently returning to urban areas and launching village-centric attacks with makeshift firearms. Within a matter of months, this armed resistance and the ensuing civil conflict expanded, transforming killings from mere street-level violence and arrests into confrontations between armed factions and the targeted killing of supporters.
It is essential to recognize the existence of an international legal framework that distinguishes crimes committed by government armed forces from those committed by non-government armed groups. Even if the actions themselves mirror one another, the crimes committed by the military council forces can be deemed more grave.
While some cases allow for discerning the circumstances surrounding the killings, an increasing number only reveal the tally of victims, withholding information about the perpetrating group or the motives behind the killings. Targeted assassinations are now occurring across the country on a daily basis, and victims are categorized primarily based on their political affiliations. The ability to differentiate between civilians, armed personnel, informants, or Dalan (traitors) has eroded, and categorization is driven solely by political content.
The military’s assumption of political power, which occurred over five decades ago, resulted from the removal of political armed forces and coups borne from insurmountable ideological differences. This period also saw the failure to address political issues related to ethnic self-determination through peaceful means. In addition, political parties and politicians sought the support of the armed forces to quell political adversaries following Myanmar’s independence.
These historical events, though transpiring decades ago, remain relevant in shaping contemporary analyses. While interpretations of the causes of armed conflicts vary according to personal perspectives and organizational allegiances, they do not alter historical facts.
From the Burma Communist Party’s retreat into the forests in 1948 to the hostilities in 1949 between the Karen National Defense Organization (KNDO) and the AFPFL government on the outskirts of Yangon, culminating in an imminent threat to Yangon, the flames of civil war have periodically surged and waned. Following the 2021 military coup, these flames have been rekindled on a large scale, marking one of the most extensive civil wars in nearly seven decades. The armed conflict that erupted post-2021 can only be likened to the civil war between 1949 and 1951.
Amidst this backdrop, targeted killings of individuals, including civilians, suspected military personnel, and supporters, occur daily across Myanmar. Recent incidents include the arrest of four civilians followed by the killing of two by a military council column in Kyi Kan (North) village in Wetlet Township, Sagaing Region. Another horrifying incident involved the rape and murder of a young woman. In yet another instance, an armed group claimed the lives of five employees and owners of a private construction company returning from a school construction site in Pakokku District. These are but a few examples from the recent past.
Such incidents transpire with alarming frequency, with certain organizations dedicated to data collection recording victim demographics, locations, and the armed group responsible or suspected to be responsible. However, these organizations often fall short when it comes to preventing or mitigating these killings. These tragic events are seemingly regarded as byproducts of the daily political milieu.
While efforts are underway to prosecute crimes committed by the military council in international courts, the success of such endeavors hinges on political and military influence. These legal proceedings, unfortunately, do not prevent the ongoing bloodshed. It is crucial to tread carefully when confronting those who are already steeped in bloodshed, ensuring that one’s hands remain untainted. To assume responsibility for such a stance, it is imperative to uphold principles and standards, transcending the realm of mere political ideology and outcomes.