Myanmar Spring Chronicle – December 10 Perspective
MoeMaKa, December 11, 2024
International Human Rights Day and the Erosion of Human Rights in Myanmar
December 10 has been designated as International Human Rights Day. It is also the day when the Nobel Committee, based in Norway, presents the Nobel Peace Prize, along with other prizes for science and literature. Around the world, December 10 is marked by events promoting awareness of human rights, advocacy campaigns, and recognitions of achievements. For Myanmar, December 10 also holds historical significance. In 1991, when Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, student activists in Yangon staged protests in recognition of the award, leading to the arrest of hundreds of activists by the then-military regime.
Before 1988, during the BSPP regime, the term “human rights” was largely unfamiliar to the Myanmar public. It was only after the 1988 uprising that the concept of human rights began to gain recognition. Between 2012 and 2021, human rights violations were increasingly documented, and educational campaigns, writings, lectures, and workshops on human rights awareness became prevalent across Myanmar. However, despite these advancements, human rights violations continued, particularly amidst armed conflicts and political instability.
During the 10-year period spanning President U Thein Sein’s government (2011–2016) and the NLD-led government under Daw Aung San Suu Kyi (2016–2021), human rights abuses persisted. Armed conflicts, ethnic and religious violence manipulated for political gain, and atrocities such as the systematic massacres and genocide of the Rohingya minority occurred, with the ICJ calling these events crimes of genocide and war crimes.
Following the 2020 elections and the subsequent military coup in 2021, Myanmar has descended into widespread and intense civil war. Civilian killings, extrajudicial executions, and brutal atrocities have become daily occurrences.
While the military council’s forces—soldiers, police, and paramilitary groups—are primarily responsible for large-scale violations such as massacres and systematic violence, resistance groups have also committed human rights abuses. Some revolutionary forces have carried out extrajudicial killings of civilians, suspected informants, or collaborators.
Despite documented violations committed by military forces, police, and prison authorities, accountability remains elusive. Only a small number of perpetrators are apprehended during battles. In Rakhine State, for instance, some surrendered or captured junta troops have been identified as human rights violators. However, in the absence of a functioning legal system amid ongoing conflict, holding perpetrators accountable under the rule of law remains a significant challenge.
On the other hand, the People’s Defense Forces (PDFs) and resistance groups must also ensure accountability for human rights abuses committed on their side. Rapid and decisive action against such violations is essential, as is implementing safeguards to prevent further incidents.
The National Unity Government (NUG) has established a Ministry of Justice and a Ministry of Human Rights to monitor, document, and address human rights violations and crimes against humanity. While these ministries currently face logistical and operational challenges on the ground, they must focus on addressing cases within their reach while systematically documenting violations for future accountability.
In particular, ensuring accountability for human rights abuses against civilians, including wrongful executions and massacres, remains a key responsibility for the NUG’s judicial mechanisms.