“Inhumane Acts” A Report by Kachin Human Rights Watch

Introduction

Since the attempted coup on 1 February 2021, the human rights situation across Myanmar has sharply deteriorated. The military junta’s dismantling of democratic principles and institutions has eroded basic human rights and made a mockery of the rule of law. Innocent people continue to be detained, while scores of political prisoners remain behind bars and an environmental crisis persists in the country’s resource-rich lands. In Kachin State, thousands have been impacted by the ongoing attacks.

Over the past five years, the military has persistently increased the violence against innocent civilians nationwide. This has led to a humanitarian crisis, pushing half the population into severe poverty. Millions have fled their homes as junta troops attack villages, setting fires and stealing possessions, including at least 244,500 internally displaced people (IDPs) in Kachin State. Critical infrastructure like hospitals, clinics, and schools have frequently been targeted by air and ground strikes, putting women and children at serious risk. Limited access to healthcare, education, and employment has shattered hope and prospects for a future without war. The situation remains unstable and complicated, with no clear resolution to the ongoing conflict.

Recommendations

To ASEAN

1. We call upon the international community and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to politically isolate the military council by refusing to invite their representatives to international summits and dialogues, thereby denying them any claim to legitimacy.
2. Cease inviting all junta representatives (political and non-political) to
   ASEAN meetings, summits, and mechanisms.
3. Maintain and strengthen the exclusion of the junta from ASEAN processes until violence stops and democratic transition begins.
4. Cease clinging to the failed Five-Point Consensus. Instead, it must adopt a new, effective strategy that includes engagement with all key stakeholders/representatives.

To the International Community and the United Nations

1. Take effective action through judicial mechanisms against those responsible for war crimes, including perpetrators of attacks on civilians in Kawng Ja Village, Bhamo Township.
2. Urgently implement coordinated and effective targeted sanctions to cut off supply chains of aviation fuel and munitions used in attacks against civilians.
3. UN member states exercise “Universal Jurisdiction” within their national legal frameworks to initiate legal proceedings and issue arrest warrants for Myanmar military generals responsible for war crimes.
4. Publicly acknowledge that the Myanmar military is responsible for widespread and systematic crimes.
5. Support international accountability pathways, including cooperation with UN mechanisms and evidence-gathering bodies.
6. Reject any ASEAN initiatives that normalize impunity or treat the junta as a legitimate stakeholder.

Recommendations

Recommendations to Humanitarian Aid Organizations

1. Provide timely emergency medical treatment and psychosocial rehabilitation support for children and civilians injured by airstrikes and heavy artillery shelling.
2. Collaborate to ensure unhindered humanitarian access for the delivery of essential food, shelter, and assistance to conflict-affected and displaced populations.
3. Shift from junta-controlled aid channels to direct cross-border humanitarian assistance through local CSOs, ethnic service providers, and community networks.
4. Ensure aid reaches conflict-affected areas without military interference.
5. Establish transparent monitoring mechanisms led by independent humanitarian actors.

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