Myanmar’s military is using lethal tactics and an arsenal of battle weapons to carry out a “killing spree” against peace activists who oppose the February 1 coup, Amnesty International said Thursday after examining video evidence and photos from the last few weeks of major protests. .
The cache of 55 video clips offers visual confirmation of the “systematic and premeditated killings”, Amnesty said in a report on Thursday, urging the UN Security Council and the international community to take steps to stop the violence.
“These Myanmar weapons tactics are far from new, but their killing sprees have never been introduced to the world,” said Joanne Mariner, Director of Emergency Response at Amnesty International.
The Amnesty Emergency Evidence Lab tested more than 50 videos of the ongoing crackdown and confirmed that security forces appear to be “implementing planned organized strategies involving ramped-up deployment of lethal force.”
“Many of those killed are recorded unlawful executions,” the rights group said.
#VIDEO – North Okkalapa, Yangon.#WhatsHappeningInMyanmar #MilkTeaAlliance # Mar10Coup https://t.co/PoZTgLom3D pic.twitter.com/9iE4JEw3Tc
– ရို နေ ဆန်းလွင် Ro Nay San Lwin (@nslwin) March 10, 2021
Images clearly show that Myanmar’s military, also known as the Tatmadaw, is “increasingly armed with weapons that are only suitable for the battlefield, not for police operations,” the report said. .
Officers were caught on video often seen engaging in “reckless conduct”, including the useless use of weapons in built-up areas.
The latest findings reinforce a report in February from Amnesty that awaited machine gun security forces who opposed peace activists and shot one woman in the head during a demonstration against a junta.
On Wednesday, police officers who fled to India told Reuters news agency that they had been directed by the army to target demonstrators and “shoot ‘until they were killed”.
‘Murderous methods’
Myanmar was crushed in a political crisis on February 1, after the army arrested the country’s elected leaders including Aung San Suu Kyi and seized power in a coup, which was allegedly without evidence to the election in November last year was a sham.
In the weeks since then, there have been almost daily protests against the cup and a civil unrest campaign under which doctors, teachers, factory workers and others have gone on strike. The military has responded with a growing force and the United Nations said last week that at least 50 people have been killed.
“These are not the actions of individual, individual officers who make poor decisions. These are already unsustainable leaders linked to crimes against humanity, using their troops and methods of assassination in the opening, ”the Amnesty report said.
“The armed authorities must immediately stop the deadly killings, take the situation out of the country, and release all those who are illegally detained.”
An injured resident, who was killed by rubber bullets while a security force destroyed barricades built by protesters against an army coup, is attending medical staff in Yangon on Tuesday [Stringer/AFP]
The video clips, dating from February 28 to March 8, were recorded by members of the public and local media in major cities including Dawei, Mandalay, Mawlamyine, Monywa, Myeik, Myitkyina and Yangon. .
In one video taken in the city of Sanchaung in Yangon on March 2, a commander is seen standing above a sniper. The boss appears to be giving him orders to shoot directly at specific fighters.
In another clip dated March 3 in the town of North Okkalapa, also in Yangon, officers are seen leading a man towards a larger group of security forces.
The man appears to be in the custody of the group and is not standing openly, when an officer next to him suddenly shoots at him. The man immediately falls to the ground and is left on the road, apparently lifeless, for several seconds before officers walk back and drag him away.
Police arrested a prosecutor while detaining him at a demonstration against the arms cup in Yangon on Saturday [Stringer/AFP]
In another confirmation clip dated February 28, a member of the army in Dawei is seen lending his rifle to an accompanying police officer. The officer crouches, aims and shoes, before a group of officers standing with them rejoice.
“Not only does this event show reckless disrespect for people’s lives, making fun of live-action shooters at activists, it also demonstrates coordination that deliberately among security forces, “Mariner said at Amnesty.
Machine guns and Uzis
Amnesty also identified armed security forces of various ammunition guns, including China-made RPD light machine guns, as well as local MA-S sniper rifles, MA-1 semi-automatic rifles, a replica of Uzi-mac- model BA-93 and BA-94 submachine guns, and other arms manufactured in Myanmar.
“These weapons are completely unsuitable for use in police complaints,” said Amnesty, citing UN guidelines, which state that security forces should stop using firearms. Unless there is a threat of death or serious injury.
“The weapons used by the Tatmadaw show a deliberate and dangerous rise,” Mariner noted.
“Not content with the use of less lethal weapons, each new day features an order that is similar to the use of semi-automatic rifles, sniper rifles, and light machine guns in numbers. is growing. Make no mistake, we are in a deadly new phase of the crisis. “
Amnesty also revealed that further analysis of photos and video showed that the generals had used the Yangon Command, Northwestern Command, and the 33rd, 77th and 101st Divant Infantry Divisions (LID) of the army to be part of the crack. ” and sometimes lend their weapons to police officers. “
The troops have been deployed in Yangon, Mandalay and Monywa, which have seen “real examples of overpowering”, including killings, by security forces in the past few days.
Some armed divisions have been accused of committing similar crimes and “serious aggravated human rights violations” in Rakhine, Kachin, and northern Shan states.
Other military units were also involved in “crimes against humanity” against Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine State in 2017.
“As the death toll rises, the UN Security Council and the international community must move beyond words of concern and act immediately to stop breaches and hold manufacturers accountable,” he said. Mariner.