A civil society watchdog reported this week that Myanmar’s military killed more than 80 ethnic Chin people since the February 1 coup.
Among those who died were two infants and a 15-year-old rape victim, read a statement from the Institute of Chin Affairs (ICA), a group of Chin civil society organizations and activists.
“The ICA is gravely concerned about the high numbers of ethnic Chin civilians being killed by [junta] forces, particularly noting the Chin people are relatively less in population as compared to other ethnic groups in Myanmar,” read the group’s statement.
A report by Radio Free Asia, quoting the ICA statement, said the military killed at least 51 ethnic Chin in Chin state, two in Kachin state, 23 in Sagaing region, one in Mandalay, one in Yangon, and three in Magwe region. Among the 81 victims were five women and 10 children.
The report said the deaths occurred while troops responded to peaceful demonstrations against the junta takeover or during military operations as part of an offensive against the People’s Defense Force militias in rural villages.
According to ICA, most of the ethnic Chin killed by the junta since February were in their 20s and many were under the age of 18.
In its statement, ICA called on the military junta “to immediately stop killing innocent people, particularly women and children, and to refrain from indiscriminate bombings and heavy explosive weapons against the civilian population.”
The Chin Human Rights Organization has earlier estimated that about 40,000 civilians have fled their homes throughout the Chin state since May.
Last month, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, warned that any escalation in violence in Myanmar must be halted to prevent even greater loss of life and a deepening humanitarian emergency, specifically referring to “areas with significant ethnic and religious minority groups.” – with a report from Radio Free Asia
