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Contents : LTSE N BURMA A L T E R N A T I V E campaigns advocacy & A S E A N capacity-building N E T W O R K for human O N rights B U R M A & democracy BN 2011/1083: October 13 2011 Updated: October 26 2011 SERIOUS INTERNATIONAL CRIMES CONTINUE IN BURMA UNDER NEW REGIME Since Thein Sein took office as Burma s President on 30 March the regime has continued to perpetrate crimes against humanity and war crimes with total impunity. Reports of serious international crimes have increased significantly in line with the escalation of the ongoing Tatmadaw offensives in Kachin Shan and Karen States. Women and children have been particularly vulnerable. Tatmadaw soldiers raped and killed women during their offensive in Kachin and Shan States. The regime also continued to recruit children into the military in order to offset the steady increase in desertions. In the past six months the following crimes against humanity and war crimes have been documented: At least 30 cases of rape and sexual violence perpetrated by military personnel. Over 400 complaints of children recruited as child soldiers. At least 35 civilians killed. Systematic use of forced labor in ethnic areas. Forced displacement during military attacks that targeted civilians. At least 11 activists and media persons arbitrarily detained or imprisoned. Over 100 villagers arbitrarily detained in Kachin and Shan State during counterinsurgency operations. Continued use of torture. Systematic persecution of Muslim Rohingya in Northern Arakan State. In May the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Burma Tom s Ojea Quintana reiterated his call for the establishment of a UN-mandated Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into serious international crimes in Burma. In June Daw Aung San Suu Kyi also reiterated her support for a CoI. Sixteen countries have endorsed the establishment of a CoI. In addition to truth-seeking and to ensuring victims rights to protection and justice a CoI has preventive value. It sends a strong message to all stakeholders including soldiers that serious crimes are unacceptable and should be stopped. The possible recommendations proposed by a CoI including legislative and institutional reforms could serve as the foundation for lasting solutions. These solutions could in turn promote discipline and professionalism among the armed forces and law enforcement officials. Those governments that hoped for a new civilian regime to deliver some form of progress must recognize that an impartial and independent CoI is a necessary measure to address the root causes of political crisis in Burma and empower all stakeholders to push forward the agenda for reform. P O BOX 296 LARDPRAO POST OFFICE BANGKOK 10310 THAILAND 081 850 9008 6681 850 9008 EMAIL publications@altsean.org WEB www.altsean.org TEL It was wait and see that let the regime start this new war against the Kachin. It is wait and see that is letting them carry on attacking women and children. Wait and see is a death sentence for us - Shirley Seng (Kachin Women s Association Thailand)1 Serious international crimes continue In the six months since Thein Sein took office on 30 March Burma s regime has continued to perpetrate crimes against humanity and war crimes with total impunity. Reports of serious international crimes have increased significantly since the escalation of the ongoing Tatmadaw offensives in Kachin and Shan States. Rape and sexual violence Since 30 March there have been a total of 30 documented cases of rape of women and girls by military personnel in Burma s ethnic areas. The majority occurred in Kachin and Shan States where Tatmadaw soldiers gang-raped at least 28 women and girls during their ongoing military offensives against the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the Shan State Army-North (SSA-N). PROLOGUE: CRIMES COMMITTED BETWEEN THE ELECTIONS AND THE INSTALLATION OF THE NEW REGIME At least 6 cases of rape and sexual violence perpetrated by military personnel. At least 10 civilians killed. At least 14 cases of forced labor. At least 1 200 prisoners forced to carry military supplies during offensives in Karen State and Eastern Pegu Division. At least 700 families forcibly displaced by Tatmadaw forces. At least 15 people subjected to arbitrary imprisonment or extended sentencing. At least 6 cases of torture. 10 April: Tatmadaw soldiers from LIB 574 gang-raped a 44-year-old woman in Wan Nawng Tao Village Mongyawng Township Shan State.2 14 April: Na Sa Ka personnel gang-raped the 40-year-old wife of a former local village chairman and his two daughters-in-law in Maungdaw Township Arakan State.3 29 April: Na Sa Ka personnel gang-raped an 18-year-old girl in Maungdaw Township Arakan State.4 2 June: Five Tatmadaw soldiers from IB 9 gang-raped a 35-year-old woman in Wan Nar Karng Village Kyethi Township North

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