The U.N. special rapporteur on Myanmar, Thomas Andrews, has condemned the military junta’s escalating atrocities against civilians, including beheadings, gang rapes, and torture, particularly targeting women, children, and the elderly. In his latest report to the U.N. General Assembly, Andrews highlighted the military’s brutal response to military defeats, using sophisticated weapons against villages controlled by opposition groups. He called Myanmar an “invisible crisis” fueled by international arms transfers to the junta.
The report also described the worsening humanitarian situation, with over 3.1 million displaced, 18.6 million in need of aid, and 5,800 civilians killed. Over 100,000 homes have been destroyed, and more than 21,000 political prisoners are detained. The military’s campaign of violence follows its 2021 coup, which ousted elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi, igniting widespread armed resistance.
Andrews criticized the junta’s planned 2025 election as a “farcical parody,” warning that it could lead to more violence. He also raised concerns about tensions between ethnic Rakhine and Rohingya communities, as well as the ongoing plight of the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. Andrews urged immediate international action to halt arms transfers to the junta, provide humanitarian aid, and support efforts to hold the military accountable for its human rights violations.
