Amnesty International has called for an investigation into the Myanmar military for potential war crimes in light of a recent offensive by an alliance of ethnic armed groups and anti-coup fighters that has posed a significant challenge to the military’s power since the coup nearly three years ago. Civilian armed groups known as People’s Defence Forces (PDF) and armed groups such as the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), and Arakan Army (AA) have joined forces, leading to intensification of the military’s “four cuts” strategy targeting civilians to quell the resistance.
According to Amnesty, the military has engaged in unlawful killings, arbitrary detentions, and theft from civilians, leading to a growing humanitarian crisis and the displacement of over two million people since the military takeover in February 2021. Indiscriminate attacks by the military, including a recent assault on Pauktaw town in Rakhine after the AA captured a police station, resulted in civilian casualties and forced evacuations. Amnesty also documented cluster munition attacks on Namkham township in Shan state, in violation of international conventions banning such weapons.
The military’s actions, including the harassment of residents, theft, and unlawful detention, have been condemned by Amnesty International and other organizations, urging for investigations into potential war crimes. The ongoing conflict in Myanmar has brought immense suffering to civilians, and despite previous calls for investigations into military abuses, the crisis has largely faded from the international agenda. The military’s actions against civilians and ethnic groups have led to widespread displacement and violations of international humanitarian law, prompting calls for immediate intervention and investigation from the international community.