Living in Fear,” The Civilian Impact of the Junta’s Attacks Against Civilians in Southeastern Burma (Jan-June 2025)

For civilians in Burma, the hardships and harrowing circumstances they have been forced to endure are mounting as the junta continues to evade accountability for their ongoing crimes. In the four and a half years since the attempted coup, the regime has killed at least 6900 people and unjustly arrested more than 29,000. In addition to the millions of people displaced, there remain growing gaps in services for those suffering and in urgent need of psychosocial support. Worse yet, despite the ongoing attacks, which are increasing in scale and frequency, the international community has failed to respond in any meaningful way to hold the junta accountable.

The military has spearheaded a campaign rooted in greed and a blatant disregard for human rights. Immediately following the failed coup, the junta quickly moved to dismantle the pillars of law. These ‘reformed’ laws criminalized peaceful protests and enabled violations of the right to privacy, arbitrary arrests, and detention.1 Doing so extended the junta’s brazen attempts to expand its reach into all areas that questioned or challenged their unjust rule.

Local organizations have amplified efforts to bring visibility, attention, and action to the rapidly deteriorating state of human rights. The military actively targets individuals, including human rights defenders, women human rights defenders (WHRDs), and leaders of various pro-democracy affiliations, particularly since 2021, in connection with the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM). Women-led organizations often face reprisals for their advocacy efforts. A report by the Women’s League of Burma titled ‘Building the Triple Resistance’ highlights that the demands of their work as WHRDs cause significant stress and anxiety due to ongoing safety and security concerns.

Since the illegal and unsuccessful coup, the inequalities faced by civilians have worsened. Decades of military impunity and a lack of international condemnation or sustained intervention have enabled the regime to routinely evade accountability. This has created further barriers to accessing political arenas and leadership positions for marginalized groups, including ethnic women who face misogyny and are undermined in their participation in political spaces and related sectors.

There has also been an increase in sexual violence and exploitation, especially in ethnic areas.3 Despite this, local women’s organizations are responding to the need to tackle sexual violence, providing hope for survivors. Nonetheless, significant obstacles remain in ensuring the success and continuity of their operations, particularly the United States government funding freeze of USAID and the devastating effects on life-saving infrastructure, including clinics and relief centers, which are increasingly critical in the current context.

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