Myanmar's human rights commission looks into civilian killings in Lashio
| Publisher | Radio Free Asia |
| Publication Date | 1 July 2016 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Asia, Myanmar's human rights commission looks into civilian killings in Lashio, 1 July 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/579ef4ea15.html [accessed 1 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
2016-07-01
Villagers prepare to carry the corpse of a civilian found in a shallow grave in Long Mon village of Mong Yaw subtownship in Myanmar's northern Shan state, June 30, 2016. RFA
Myanmar's human rights commission has asked authorities in Lashio township in restive northern Shan State for more information about the discovery of the bodies of seven civilians who were apparently shot by government army soldiers, but has not yet decided whether to launch an official investigation, a member of the body said.
Some villagers of Mong Yaw subtownship, where fighting erupted on June 25 between the military and armed ethnic soldiers, found the bodies in three different shallow graves and believe that government army soldiers who were seen detaining the local citizens later killed them.
Villagers previously told RFA's Myanmar Service that an army unit from Lashio, the largest town in northern Shan state, opened fire in the vicinity of the village on June 25 and detained six ethnic Shan men and five women working in a cornfield. They later released all the women and three of the men.
They determined that the corpses were those of two men whom soldiers had taken from a cornfield in Long Mon village, three ethnic Palaung men who had ridden motorbikes to the cornfield, and an unidentified man and woman who had passed along the road beside the field.
"We have been asking what happened, but haven't had any response yet," Nyan Zaw, a member of the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission told RFA.
"As a procedure, we have to discuss what we have heard [about any human rights problems] in a meeting, and then we will make a decision whether or not we will investigate it," he said.
Established in September 2011, the commission has a government mandate to promote and safeguard the fundamental rights of Myanmar citizens enshrined in the country's constitution.
Lieutenant Colonel Aung Myat Moe of the northern Shan state's police said no one has filed an official report about the case, so no further action has yet been taken.
Ethnic rebel armies active in and around the area include the Manpang Peoples Militia, Kachin Defense Army (KDA) People's Militia led by Matu Naw, Kachin Independence Army (KIA), Shan State Army (SSA), and Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA).
Rights groups have accused both government troops and ethnic rebel soldiers of human rights violations in Shan state, including kidnapping, torturing, and killing civilians, and forcing them to work as laborers.
Reported by Wai Mar Tun for RFA's Myanmar Service. Translated by Khet Mar. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
Link to original story on RFA website
