UN Warns Myanmar at New Low in Human Rights

Myanmar's already dire human rights situation has deteriorated to a "new low," with the rise of illegal mining operations and online scam centers exacerbating the crisis, the United Nations has warned.

In a report covering the period from June 1 to May 31, the UN Human Rights Office stated that civilians continue to face airstrikes, arson attacks, and displacement.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said that "suffering, despair, and brutality" are rising across Myanmar, and the situation is deeply alarming.

Türk also urged international governments, companies, and investors to seriously reflect on their actions or silence.

The report states that Min Aung Hlaing is currently seeking to ease Myanmar's international isolation and gain diplomatic recognition following the coup, having visited India, China, Laos, and Thailand, and that the military's persistent efforts to consolidate control and legitimacy have deepened the suffering and life-threatening humanitarian crises facing civilians.

The report also notes that the coup military is using new surveillance technologies to control civilians' daily lives through fear.

Similarly, the report states that the coup military and the Arakan Army have committed widespread and systematic human rights violations against the Rohingya minority.

On the other hand, the report highlights that illegal economic activities such as illicit mining, drug production, human trafficking, and online scam centers have become a financial source for the conflict, further worsening the human rights crisis.

James Rodehaver, head of the UN Human Rights Office's Myanmar team, said local communities are becoming increasingly dependent on online scam centers, which are building roads, schools, and wells to gain local support and trust.

The UN report also states that large amounts of hazardous chemicals from mining operations are flowing into rivers, severely impacting environmental pollution and reproductive health.

According to data, most mining operations are aimed at the neighboring Chinese market, and in 2023, trade flows between Myanmar's mining production and the Chinese market reached up to US$1.4 billion, the report said.

Ref & Photo; AFP