A report documents at least 188 cases of rapes and abuse in the four years of "reformist" president Thein Sein. However, the actual number of crimes committed against women, particularly among ethnic minorities, is far greater. Calls for greater female participation in political, social and institutional framework of the country.

Yangon (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The Burmese military continues to perpetrate violence and abuse against unarmed civilians and "particularly women", in complete "impunity". Under the mandate of the "reformist" President Thein Sein, between late 2010 and early 2014, government soldiers have carried out a wave of gang rapes, sexual assaults or attempted abuse in several states of Myanmar.

At least 188 confirmed cases of abuse are documented in an report presented by the Women's League of Burma (WLB) released to coincide with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the complaint, but the number may be higher.

Fra le minoranze etniche, le più esposte a reati di natura sessuale sono gli Shan, i Kachin, i Mon e i Chin. Daw Lwei Po Pein, segretario generale di Ta'aung Women's Organization, aggiunge che "a causa del numero crescente di unità militari [a protezioni di cantieri e infrastrutture, ndr], gli abitanti dei villaggi e soprattutto le donne sono esposte a sempre maggiori violazioni sessuali e ai diritti umani". 

The report entitled; "If they had hope, they would speak: The ongoing use of state-sponsored sexual violence in Burma's ethnic communities", says documented cases are only a small fraction of the total. Yein Han Pa, spokesman for a Shan women's movement, adds that the victims often do not get justice and perpetrators go unpunished. It is not uncommon to the intervention of senior military officers, who offer cash rewards - or threats - to silence the events most scabrous.

Among ethnic minorities, the most exposed to sexual offenses are the Shan, the Kachin, the Mon and Chin. Daw Lwei Po Pein, general secretary of Ta'aung Women's Organization, said, "Due to increasing number of military units, [to guard construction work and infrastructure, ed], villagers and women face a larger number of sexual and human rights violations".

The government of Burma has worked hard to show its reformist credentials to the world, but for women in Burma's ethnic communities, human rights abuses and sexual violence at the hands of the Burma Army remain a constant threat. Daw Tin Tin Nyo, general secretary of the Women's League of Burma notes that "Any positive changes coming out of Nay Pyi Taw have not improved the lived experience of women in Burma". 

Another factor that contributes to the marginalization of women and the denial of their rights is the almost total absence of women's voices - except for that of icon Aung San Suu Kyi - in public, political and institutional life in Myanmar.

Since 2011 - when the military dictatorship ended with the formation of a semi-civilian government, and the appointment of a President (Thein Sein, a former junta general) - Myanmar has engaged in a series of political and institutional reforms toward greater democracy. However, this process of change - which has also led to the partial cancellation of Western sanctions - has suffered a sharp slowdown. Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi is still barred from running for president in elections slated for 2015 and conflicts still rage between the government and ethnic minorities, particularly in the Kachin State.

 

• MYANMAR
• ethnic
• minorities
• army
• abuse
• rape
• violence
• women