Over 150 women killed by regime in less than three months: Burmese Women’s Union
“The regime’s actions are very despicable. The use of civilians and women by the regime under the pretext of fighting is an inhumane act,” said one Arakanese woman.
19 Apr 2024
DMG Newsroom
19 April 2024, Sittwe
A total of 155 women died at the hands of Myanmar’s military regime during the period from January 1 to March 20, the Burmese Women’s Union (BWU) said in a report released on Friday. Most of the victims were from Sagaing Region.
The majority of victims were killed by artillery strikes, bombing raids or beatings after being detained by junta forces.
Other cases included victims who were burnt to death, were killed in the course of a sexual assault, in landmine blasts, or due to lack of medicine in prisons, the BWU said.
The group offered one account of a group of junta soldiers who on January 17 allegedly gang raped and brutally killed a local woman and her daughter from Ngatanpyin Village in Minbya Township.
“The regime’s actions are very despicable. The use of civilians and women by the regime under the pretext of fighting is an inhumane act,” said one Arakanese woman.
Civilian casualties are reported in Arakan State on a daily basis due to regime shellings and airstrikes. Accusations that the junta is committing war crimes and gross violations of human rights are now commonplace.
From January 1 to March 20, 2024, 38 women were arrested by the regime for spreading false information on social networks, according to data compiled by the BWU.