GENEVA — United Nations-backed investigators have uncovered compelling evidence of systematic torture within Myanmar’s military-run detention facilities.
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The Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM) released a 16-page report detailing severe abuses, including beatings, electric shocks, strangulation, gang rape, and the removal of fingernails with pliers.
The findings are based on over 1,300 sources, including eyewitness testimonies and forensic evidence. Some detainees reportedly died from the inflicted torture.
The report also highlights the unlawful detention and abuse of children, some as young as two years old, often held as proxies for their parents involved in opposition activities. These minors have been subjected to various forms of torture and sexual violence.
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While the IIMM has identified senior military figures among the perpetrators, specific names have not been disclosed due to ongoing investigations. The report also notes that both Myanmar’s security forces and opposition groups have committed summary executions.
The IIMM continues to collect and share evidence with international judicial bodies, including the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice, to facilitate accountability for these human rights violations. However, the report warns that recent United Nations budget cuts threaten the continuation of its vital work.
Sources: Reuters, AP News, Al Jazeera, The Guardian
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