UN investigator: Myanmar junta attacks civilians to terrorize them as arms buys fuel war

A United Nations rights investigator has warned that the military junta in Myanmar is deliberately targeting civilians in an effort to terrorise the population and compel them to submit to its rule. The report, released in late October, details a pattern of attacks in several provinces where armed forces and their paramilitary allies have carried out shelling, arson and kidnappings, according to sources familiar with the investigation. It paints a grim picture of a regime that is using violence not merely as a means of suppression but as a calculated tool of psychological warfare, aimed at breaking the will of communities and erasing any sense of resistance.The investigator, whose name has not been disclosed to protect the safety of field workers, spoke to residents in the Shan and Kachin states, where the violence has been most intense..

Witnesses described how villages were bombarded without warning, leaving children and the elderly to flee into the surrounding forests, only to be found dead or wounded. In one instance, a mother and her four children were reported killed when their home was set alight by soldiers allegedly following orders from higher command. “We have heard the orders to make an example,” a local official told the reporter, “and we have seen the execution.”The report notes that the junta’s attacks are often indiscriminate and timed to create maximum terror..

In a recent incident, artillery shells struck a crowded market in Lashio, where shopkeepers were trading grain and textiles. The shells caused dozens of injuries and left the market in ruins. The UN investigator highlighted that such attacks are not random acts of war but part of a broader strategy to instil fear and discourage the population from supporting the National Unity Government, the coalition of ethnic armed forces that has been resisting the junta since 2021.One of the key findings of the investigation is the systematic use of human shields..

The report documents cases where soldiers have positioned themselves in front of civilian houses or moved families into harm’s way before launching attacks. In one village, a group of armed men were observed instructing local residents to gather near a checkpoint and then firing artillery at the gathered crowd. The incident left several civilians dead and several others injured..

“It is a clear attempt to use civilians as a shield, which is a violation of international humanitarian law,” the investigator said.The report also touches on the role of the junta’s paramilitary groups, who have been deployed in areas where the National Unity Government has gained a foothold. These groups have a reputation for brutal conduct, and the investigation found that they have been involved in extrajudicial killings and forced disappearances. In a separate case in the southern region, a man was reportedly abducted from his home, taken to a nearby village, and left for days before being found dead..

The family’s accounts suggest that the paramilitary forces were acting under orders from the military hierarchy.In addition to the direct attacks on civilians, the investigator points to the junta’s economic strategy of cutting off essential supplies. The regime has systematically destroyed or seized water pumps, electricity plants and agricultural infrastructure, effectively strangling communities and forcing them into dependence on the government. In one instance, a hydroelectric plant in the north was destroyed by the army, plunging a town of 50,000 people into darkness for weeks..

Residents report that the loss of electricity has had a direct impact on health services, with hospitals forced to rely on diesel generators at exorbitant cost. The report states that such deprivation is a deliberate tactic to weaken civilian morale and undermine resistance movements.The United Nations has previously described the situation in Myanmar as “a grave violation of human rights” and “a clear breach of international law.” The investigator’s latest findings reinforce the urgency for a comprehensive international response. The report calls for the establishment of a special rapporteur on Myanmar and a review of the jurisdiction of international criminal tribunals..

It also urges the international community to increase sanctions on those involved in the procurement of arms for the junta. The investigation revealed that the military has been purchasing weapons from a variety of international suppliers, despite sanctions, and that these arms are being used in the ongoing conflict.The report underscores that the junta’s use of terror has not been limited to the battlefield; it extends into the political arena. The investigator cites evidence that the military has been conducting intimidation campaigns, including the forced relocation of ethnic minorities and the demolition of cultural sites..

In one region, a historic monastery was set on fire by soldiers, an act that has been described as an attempt to erase cultural heritage and demoralise the community. “This is a form of psychological warfare that is designed to erode identity and solidarity,” the investigator said.International responses to the report have been varied. The European Union has reiterated its commitment to strengthening sanctions on individuals and entities that supply the military with arms..

Meanwhile, several Asian countries have expressed concerns about the potential for diplomatic fallout but have refrained from imposing new measures. The United States has, for the third year running, imposed sanctions targeting individuals linked to the procurement of advanced weapons systems for the junta. However, critics argue that these measures are insufficient to curb the flow of arms, which continue to reach Myanmar through black markets and sympathetic intermediaries.The United Nations has pledged to continue its investigations and to bring those responsible for war crimes to justice..

The report recommends that the UN establish a fact-finding mission to provide independent evidence and support prosecutions at the International Criminal Court. The investigator also called for increased protection of journalists and human rights defenders, who risk violence while reporting on the crisis. “The safety of those who document these abuses is essential for holding the perpetrators accountable,” the report states.On the ground, civilians continue to endure daily uncertainty and fear..

In the city of Mandalay, residents have reported that the army has increased its presence and is conducting random checks of households. Many families are forced to flee their homes, leaving behind belongings and livestock. In remote villages, the lack of electricity and clean water has exacerbated health risks..

“We have to keep moving because we never know when the army will come,” one mother said, her voice trembling as she spoke. Her children, too young to understand the full extent of the conflict, have been left to navigate a landscape of fear and destruction.The investigation concludes that Myanmar’s military junta is systematically using terror and deprivation to suppress dissent and maintain control. It urges the international community to recognise that the current crisis is not a mere civil conflict but a state-sponsored campaign of violence against civilians..

The report calls on governments and organisations to act decisively, using all available diplomatic, economic and legal tools, to bring an end to the suffering of the Burmese people and to uphold the principles of human rights and international law..