Myanmar Spring Chronicle – February 6 by MoeMaKa Media:
Atrocities, Resentment, and Retaliation in the Shadows of Civil War
The annals of Myanmar’s civil war, spanning over 70 years, are marked by a distressing tapestry of conflict, brute force, war, resentment, revenge, and unspeakable atrocities. In the ebbs and flows of decades, the fuel of civil unrest sometimes smoldered beneath ash-covered embers, only to flare up again in cycles of devastating violence.
Recent days brought to light a shocking incident through a brief video, widely shared on social media, evoking profound emotional distress among those who viewed it. The footage documented the horrifying torture and burning to death of two individuals by military council soldiers and their collaborators, known as Pyu Saw Htee members, in Myauk Khin Yan Village, Gangaw Township. This event stands as a chilling embodiment of the words “atrocity” and “evil,” underlining the brutal consequences of conflicts between factions aligned with different political forces, military counter-attacks, and retaliations carried out in the most ruthless manner.
In the historical context of civil wars, captured enemies on the battlefield seldom faced legal repercussions; instead, they often fell victim to brutal torture and execution based on unwritten verbal orders. These incidents, ingrained in Myanmar’s ugly civil war history, reflect a darker side of warfare. Anecdotes from the past recount instances during the 1960 conflict between CPB communists and the Burmese Army, where captured CPB armed men on the front line were summarily executed without legal proceedings. Similar situations arose during the fight against the KNU armed forces, showcasing the deep-seated resentment and hatred between opposing factions.
Reports from villagers in Karen State revealed that during the military council’s crackdown on revolutionary forces, arrests resulted in torture and killings too gruesome to recount in detail. A disturbing parallel was drawn by a witness, who stated that the brutality exhibited by the military and military intelligence during interrogations surpassed even the cruelty witnessed during the Japanese occupation.
The horrors extended to the tragic events of 2017 when the Myanmar army, while suppressing ARSA armed forces in northern Rakhine State, was responsible for the mass killing of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya villagers. This incident has been internationally charged as genocide and continues to face legal scrutiny.
Unlike eras when such atrocities occurred without cameras to document or platforms to disseminate information, today’s technology records illegal killings and brutality, often leaked either accidentally or intentionally. This exposure traumatizes those who witness these atrocities, fueling resentment and setting the stage for cycles of revenge.
The longstanding culture of brutality, coupled with a prevailing culture of impunity, demands that armed organizations shoulder the primary responsibility to halt these atrocities. To break the cycle of brutality ingrained in Myanmar’s civil war history, commanders of armed organizations bear a significant burden.
Ultimately, accountability for crimes, irrespective of political allegiance, is paramount. A commitment to hold perpetrators accountable, without providing limited immunity based on political position, is an essential step toward justice and the prevention of further atrocities.