Myanmar Spring Chronicle – June 26 View
(MoeMaKa, June 27, 2025):
Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Under a Lawless Environment
In recent weeks, multiple incidents of sexual abuse and exploitation have surfaced in Myanmar’s displaced and revolution-affiliated communities. One of the most widely discussed cases involves a young photojournalist and documentary filmmaker from Loikaw PDF battalion in Kayah (Karenni) State — a recipient of the globally prestigious World Press Photo Award — who was accused of committing sexual assault.
Following this, another case emerged on social media involving a Karenni-based researcher and activist focused on minority rights, accused of a similar act of sexual violence. In the same week, a third allegation surfaced when a woman publicly disclosed on social media that she had been sexually harassed by a staff member of a reproductive health education group. While only one of the three cases occurred recently, the other two took place years ago and were only now being brought to light — likely encouraged by the growing momentum of social accountability.
These incidents involve individuals who work in human rights, political education, journalism, and pro-democracy activism. With the exception of the Loikaw PDF case, the others occurred among diaspora communities or ethnic-controlled zones, beyond the reach of formal legal systems.
The underlying cause appears to be the lack of rule of law and weak community oversight mechanisms in these environments. What’s particularly troubling is that these violations occurred within organizations that claim to stand for justice and human dignity — groups actively opposing military dictatorship.
It is a painful contradiction: that those working to build a more just, democratic society — including revolution-linked civic groups — are being accused of the very abuses they claim to oppose. That many victims only now feel safe enough to speak up further underscores how power imbalance, reputation, and influence often silence survivors for years.
While sexual misconduct may exist in all sectors — including the military, bureaucracy, and corporate settings — it feels particularly unacceptable when it emerges within the revolutionary movement, which is supposed to embody moral transformation. While it’s natural to acknowledge that no organization is perfect, and that all groups include both good and bad individuals, revolutionary groups must hold themselves to a higher standard.
What makes these revelations alarming is not just the individual acts themselves, but also the failure of these organizations to respond decisively and transparently — to take real responsibility and ensure justice.
These cases suggest that deep-rooted patriarchal attitudes, unchecked authority, and weak accountability structures have carried over from the old oppressive systems into the very movements that aim to dismantle them.
Why are so many survivors coming forward now? Because perpetrators often hold positions of power, influence, or celebrity, making it difficult for victims to speak out. The recent Loikaw PDF case appears to have given others the courage to break the silence.
This has created a ripple effect — a #MeToo-style movement — in Myanmar’s own context, where one case after another is now surfacing. And while this moment should be supported and amplified, it also calls for structural change.
We need:
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Clear codes of conduct
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Safe reporting channels
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Independent investigations
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Consistent disciplinary actions
These systems are urgently needed in every revolutionary and humanitarian organization to ensure that survivors are protected and perpetrators are held accountable.
Punishments must be appropriate and just — not mob justice, but due process rooted in ethics and law. Where no formal legal system exists, community-based oversight, guided by legal experts and human rights defenders, is essential.
We must strive for a justice system that upholds fairness, dignity, and rule of law — even in times of war and institutional collapse. Some sexual violence cases involving PDF commanders in Upper Myanmar have already raised concerns due to the lack of proper investigation or resolution.
Ultimately, these incidents damage the credibility of the revolution itself. That’s why these public disclosures must not only be supported but also lead to concrete justice for both victims and the movement as a whole.