11th March 2021 – London/Yangon — Burma Human Rights Network strongly condemns the Burmese Military’s arrest, torture, and murder of Muslim National League for Democracy (NLD) members. The military has engaged in a campaign of terror against the civilian population since the 1 February coup, and in recent weeks has begun to target individual civilians for their party affiliation and religion. NLD members, many of them Muslim, are being arbitrarily arrested, tortured, and murdered in Junta custody. These crimes, coupled with the abuse and murder of protesters, should be prosecuted as Crimes Against Humanity.

“Burma has a long history of singling out Muslims during times of political unrest and the current situation is no different. Muslim NLD members are being singled out and killed by the fascist regime as part of a broader wave of attacks on political opposition. Without intervention from the international community and support for the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) the situation will continue to deteriorate. The world must learn its lesson from its failures to act for the Rohingya and take immediate action to put an end to the violence unfolding against civilians,” said BHRN’s Executive Director Kyaw Win.

On the night of 6th March 2021, U Khin Maung Latt, who was Muslim and ward chair for the NLD in Pabedan Township, was violently beaten and arrested. On the morning of 7th March 2021, he was pronounced dead at the scene with head and face injuries. Several other NLD members and perceived supporters were detained and tortured in the same week across the country, with some dying in custody.

BHRN calls on the Burmese security forces to immediately stop all violence against opposition figures and protesters, relinquish power, and restore the democratically elected parliament. The international community must make clear that the current state of affairs in Burma is unacceptable and must stop immediately. Targeted sanctions against the military, its cronies, and its connected businesses must be increased, a global arms embargo must be enacted, cases against the military at the ICC must be submitted and supported, and financial and strategic support must be given to the Civil Disobedience Movement.

Background on the Burma Human Rights Network (BHRN)

BHRN is based in London and operates across Burma/Myanmar working for human rights, minority rights and religious freedom in the country. BHRN has played a crucial role in advocating for human rights and religious freedom with politicians and world leaders.

Media Enquiries
Please contact:

Kyaw Win
Executive Director
Burma Human Rights Network (BHRN)
E: [email protected]
T: +44(0) 740 345 2378

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