Myanmar Spring Chronicle – June 12 View
(MoeMaKa, June 13, 2025):
Accountability Within Armed Revolutionary Groups
Within the armed resistance movement, incidents of sexual misconduct, financial misappropriation, and diversion of funds donated for the revolution—used instead for personal gain—occur from time to time. These are not isolated or rare; they have been known to arise periodically.
Another recurring issue involves abuse of power by resistance fighters: detaining, torturing, or even killing civilians—especially those suspected of being junta informants or collaborators—often without due process or oversight, and sometimes even concealing the bodies.
It is understandable, to some degree, that any human organization will include both good and bad actors. In revolutionary times, people might prioritize military victory, arguing that human rights, women’s rights, and ethics are secondary concerns. But that mindset itself carries danger.
Revolution is not a poem or a song composed in perfection—it can’t be expected to be flawless. Yet, accepting moral shortcuts in the name of victory makes it no longer a revolution. A revolution that simply replaces one oppressive system with another is not justifiable. If the movement tolerates the very injustice it claims to fight, it loses legitimacy.
The true spirit of revolution is inseparable from justice, accountability, and a vision for a new, better society—one that rejects impunity, abuse, and gender-based violence. It’s not simply about replacing the old party, army, or government, but about dismantling the unjust systems they upheld.
So why raise this topic now?
Because on June 12, reports emerged that a young man affiliated with a Karenni armed group had allegedly committed sexual assault against a young woman. While major media did not report it formally, the news spread rapidly within revolutionary networks—especially as the accused is known internationally as a World Press Photo award winner.
The individual was once part of the student union, later joined the Spring Revolution, and gained recognition for his documentary photography. As such, his alleged assault is not just a personal moral failure, but a serious reputational blow to the revolution itself.
This has led to wider questions: If someone capable of such ethical and legal violations was also involved in managing fundraising, could there have been financial misconduct as well? Often, such issues remain hidden until another scandal brings them to light.
The way revolutionary forces handle such misconduct—whether sexual violence, financial fraud, or abuses against civilians including women and children—is now a central question.
Regardless of fame or anonymity, there needs to be a transparent process and a standard mechanism for investigating and addressing such cases. In matters of financial accountability—where donations sometimes total in the hundreds of thousands or millions—there must be thorough audits. In matters of sexual misconduct, especially involving minors, perpetrators must face real legal consequences under applicable regional laws.
In the past four years, there have been cases of human rights abuses, looting, extrajudicial killings, and other misconduct committed by members or leaders of armed groups. These cases must be investigated and prosecuted by their respective commands.
Some have claimed that such accountability can wait until after the revolution succeeds. But this is completely wrong. Justice and victory are not separate—they are intertwined. Persistent human rights violations undermine the entire revolutionary cause.
If such crimes are allowed to go unchecked, we may reach a point where we can no longer even call it a revolution.