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From VOA, an aspect of the repression in Myanmar that has not attracted the same level of attention as did the government's blocking of foreign aid after Cyclone Nargis:
Cheery Zahau, a member of Burma's Chin minority, says members of the Burmese army rape women in ethnic minority areas all over the country. She says in Burma's western Chin State alone, at least 38 cases of sexual violence were committed by soldiers in 2006. The youngest victim was only 12....
"The soldiers are raping women to punish the populations who they suspect of supporting insurgency groups," she said. "And also they rape the women to disturb the faith and psychological welfare of these ethnic women. For example in 2003, a woman was raped by four soldiers on her way back home from the market. Until now she is mentally disturbed."
In light of the UN Security Council's recent -- if long-overdue -- resolution officially condemning rape as a weapon of war, this testimony reveals yet another example of a conflict zone marred by rampant, targeted sexual violence against women.
The situation in Myanmar following Nargis may have slipped off the radar of the mainstream press, but the same ruling military junta remains, using the same reprehensible tactics to terrorize its people. Humanitarian support is still desperately needed to aid those suffering from the cyclone's destruction, and such a systematized, state-organized campaign of rape will require a sustained effort from the UN and its Member States.
Comments
To top it off, the citizens there who are actually trying to help have to risk their lives in violation of government policies to do so, according to some reporters there. It is ridiculous and the local people are exerting an amazing amount of courage.
Posted by: Lou at July 1, 2008 4:41 PM
It would be helpful for the international media to cover the many issues facing the Burmese ethnic nationalities, instead of concentrating mostly on Aung San Suu Kyi's house arrest, and her many awards for her non-violent struggle stance which we very seldom see the Burmans in the cities attempting to put into effect.
Meanwhile, non-Burman ethnicities are used as beasts of burden, starved, tortured, extorted, and chased into the jungle to allow nature to take its toll on them, while their homes are looted and burned.
Not only is rape used as a weapon, but destruction of food is also used as a weapon.
Denial of medicine is used as a weapon.
Denial of even a primary education for the children is used as a weapon which is aimed at keeping the ethnic minority citizens from advancing beyond the poverty and forced labor where the regime exploits them and their resources.
Not counting the cyclone victims, hundreds of thousands of Burmese citizens will die this year, just as they have every year for over half a century, many of them small children and elderly.
The regime will continue to allow human trafficking, and the production of heroin and methamphetamines, and instead of spending money on medical facilities to stem the spread of AIDS/HIV and multi-drug resistant tuberculosis, they will continue to spend 40% of the GNP on the Burma army, whose main objective is the persecution and exploitation of the ethnic minorities which comprise roughly one-third of the population.
Aung San Suu Kyi needs more awards for being locked in her home, like she needs to spend another year locked in her home, neither of which does anything at all for the Burmese people.
If she was released tommorrow, what difference would it make unless the media reports the issues of the Burmese people?
If Aung San Suu Kyi was freed and spoke out on those issues, she would be locked up again.
The bigger question is when will anyone start speaking out about the ethnic minorities? Will they be freed along with the Burmans? Or will the Burma army be allowed to continue to "manage" them?
For those who are looking forward to Aung San Suu Kyi someday being able to assume the position of Prime Minister of Burma, please start looking into what she will do with the Burma army, and the non-Burman ethnicities.
Posted by: Garrett at July 3, 2008 2:21 PM