A webinar presented by the IBA's Human Rights Institute
Since the coup in February 2021, Myanmar’s military and police have reportedly killed more than 2,250 civilians. Over 12,000 people are victims of mass arbitrary detention, in addition to reports of enforced disappearances, torture and ill-treatment.
In many cases, lawyers, judges, political opponents, journalists and human rights defenders – all civilians – are being brought before military courts, in breach of international standards. As of June 2022, military tribunals had reportedly sentenced 117 people to death under martial law, including 41 in absentia, through closed, summary proceedings, without access to legal representation and with no right of appeal. More than 18 lawyers have been arrested for defending political detainees and the activities of lawyers and lawyers’ associations have been suppressed, against the UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers and threatening access to justice.
The crackdown on lawyers, judges, political opponents, journalists and human rights defenders is even more concerning as the military junta has further crippled the rule of law in the country. As recently reported on by the IBA’s Human Rights Institute, the right to a fair trial in Myanmar is an illusion.
These human rights violations add to the long litany of atrocities perpetrated by the military against the Rohingya. Now that the military is in power, the chances of the Rohingya seeing justice and accountability in Myanmar are zero and the Rohingya face a heightened risk.
