Burma

When Unarmed Women Are in the Hands of Armed Men

By SAW YAN NAING Monday, November 7, 2011

Victims of war—ethnic Karen women and children wait for medical treatment in January 2010. (Photo: AP)

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The US special envoy to Burma, Derek Mitchell, who made his third visit to the country in less than two months last week, has also called for an end to rights abuses in ethnic areas.

Speaking to reporters, he said, “We heard about the continuing conflict in ethnic areas, a continuation of decades of conflict in which many thousands of non-combatants have been the victims, and where serious abuses, including against women and children, continue.”

“We continue to be greatly concerned about these issues and we have raised these concerns with the government officials with whom we met,” said Mitchell.

Giving a live speech to a conference in Canada on May 23-25 this year, pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi said, “Rape is used in my country as a weapon against those who only want to live in peace, especially in areas of the ethnic nationalities. It is used as a weapon by armed forces to intimidate the ethnic nationalities and divide our country.”

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COMMENTS (9)

Madeline Owen Wrote:

11/11/2011

Wow. This really shines a light on how bad the world is getting. I can really feel for these women, for the same thing has happened to me in the past. I pray for all the women everywhere. Good Luck Everybody else!

bwanyunt Wrote:

09/11/2011

I love to see current approach made by DASSK for the sake of poor people. It's not definitely please the exiles (lip servicing so called pro-democracy people). Zaganar may be loughing at those people from exiles. The steps taken by Thein Sein is still not enough, but as long as Thein Sein & DASSK understood & pecefully compromised for that change is acceptable. They're trying a different approach, give them a time please. Sorry Mr & Mrs Exiles, you're out of ring now and continue enjoying your life!

Ohnpanmaung Wrote:

09/11/2011

Americans are "concerned" about large number of people raped and killed cruelly by the very people they are try to link up! What any decent person or government should do is called condemnation and the correct action is not promising to get in bed with them but to further isolate and punish until they stop.

But then again the raped people cannot even look up to the people's champion NLD as they are busy praising the leader of the rape gang.

Major exile news outlets will do well to concentrate on condemnation of the act of rape and murder than getting busy giving " kudos" to the leader of the rape gang as well. Oh sorry this one is a moderate. He just sat around when the monks were beated to deth.

Sai Suriya Wrote:

09/11/2011

Once again it is totally unfair to blame on the majority of innocent Bamar but they have the responsibilities and duty to clear the misfortune fallen upon them. All bamar lumyo has to prove and work harder to gain the trust and confidence of all ethnics group. At this point --- every ethnics group has a sentiment of hatred towards Bamar. Trust this and hope all the bamar will work hard to clear the bad name brought by small xenophobic generals.

kerry Wrote:

08/11/2011

How can anyone in the world take seriously a government that freely conducts a war against women, and refuses to free political prisoners?

How can ASEAN even think of giving such a 'government' Chairmanship?

Baby steps needed, but for God's sake - stop the killing and war crimes!

myat moe Wrote:

08/11/2011

This is only a political madness by the military junta trying to silence the ethnic resistance by using force and fear tactic. It's not going to work as before. What is the Rubber stamp parliament doing about it, Nothing! In the future, The commander; architect of this war crime and atrocity will take off his uniform and become a law maker in the new burma political puppet show. Welcome to the new era of democracy in burma. good luck.

Maung Kyaw Nu,A former prisone Wrote:

08/11/2011

How to stop these kinds of uncivilised war crimes. The war criminals should be booked for trail. Save the innocent women.

Norman Hla Wrote:

08/11/2011

US special envoy (only lip service) delays our Spring uprising in Burma but US will be sure to support Israel to attack Iran for nuclear weapon aim due to US interest in middle east although rejection from Russian and China for Israel military intention. Because Iran nuclear threat is to US civilians(human) and Burmese ethnics and Syrian are not US civilians(not human). We, Burmese are asked to wait the repeated same results(time)of game(hide-and-seek))created by "than shwe" between Obama and than shwe. Sorry, we, ethnics are very poor to serve US envoy with special dinner from Tax payer's money again and again for than shwe's game. Please, US military plane should allow than shwe to go to US for any game permanently(do not let than shwe to come back Burma).

Wallace Hla Wrote:

08/11/2011

With all the documented evidence of what is happening in Burma, US special envoy Derek Mitchell and his colleague Michael Posner, Asst. Secretary ( Bureau of democracy, human rights and labor ) had the nerves and galls to make a press statement that they had concluded a very productive and informative visit to Burma that lasted four days and met with a range of senior government officials as well as members of civil society, opposition political leaders, and representatives of the international community. Instead of taking this rare opportunity of visiting the conflict zones on a fact-finding trip, they chose to be wined and dined and were satisfied with whatever lies the Burmese government wanted them to hear and report back to their government. I thought I had seen the last of the likes of Gambari and Ban Ki Moon but it seems that I’m wrong, seeing there are many of the same caliber to replace them, ending any hopes of the sufferings of the ethnic minorities of Burma.