A report from the Women’s League of Burma alleges the Myanmar armed forces have committed 118 incidences of gang rape, rape or attempted sexual assault in the States of Myanmar, during the tenure of President U Thein Sein
26 November 2014 | Written by Yu Wai | Published in Myanmar
A report from the Women’s League of Burma alleges the Myanmar armed forces have committed 118 incidences of gang rape, rape or attempted sexual assault in the States of Myanmar, during the tenure of President U Thein Sein.
The report entitled; “If they had hope, they would speak: The ongoing use of state-sponsored sexual violence in Burma’s ethnic communities”, was issued at a press conference held at the Myanmar Journalist Network’s office in Yangon on November 25.
The report covering the period from 2010 to 2014 was released on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
According to the group, the number of cases of sexual assault is believed to be a fraction of the actual number of cases that have taken place.
Yein Han Pa, spokeswoman of a Shan women’s activist group, said that the victims of violence could not enjoy fairness and justice. Some military officers offered financial compensation over a case or threatened the victim.
She said women in the Shan, Kayin, Mon and Chin states face the biggest threat of sexual harassment and assault by government troops. Those troops who break the law are free from being prosecuted over their crimes.
Daw Lwei Po Pein, general secretary of Ta’aung Women’s Organization, said, “Due to increasing number of military units, villagers and women face a larger number of sexual and human rights violations.”
“The government of Burma has worked hard to show its reformist credentials to the world, but for women in Burma’s ethnic communities, human rights abuses and sexual violence at the hands of the Burma Army remain a constant threat,” said Daw Tin Tin Nyo, general secretary of the Women’s League of Burma in a statement. “Any positive changes coming out of Nay Pyi Taw have not improved the lived experience of women in Burma.”