Myanmar Military Junta Sentences 76 Villagers to 10 Years in Prison

Human Rights Violations in Thabeikkyin, Mandalay Region

Outcry and Condemnation

Following the February 1, 2021 military coup in Myanmar, the military junta has been accused of numerous human rights violations, including arbitrary arrests, torture, and extrajudicial killings.

On May 17, 2023, the junta sentenced 76 villagers from Thabeikkyin, Mandalay Region, to 10 years in prison for allegedly supporting the anti-coup resistance movement.

Background

• Thabeikkyin is a village located in the Mandalay Region of Myanmar.
• The village has been a stronghold of the anti-coup resistance movement.
• The junta has accused the villagers of providing food, shelter, and other support to the resistance fighters.

Trial and Sentencing

The 76 villagers were arrested in a series of raids by the junta in March and April 2023.

They were tried by a military court and found guilty of "terrorism" and "insurrection."

The sentences handed down by the court are the harshest yet imposed on civilians by the junta.

International Condemnation

The sentencing of the 76 villagers has been met with widespread condemnation from human rights groups and international organizations.

• The United Nations has called for the immediate release of the villagers.
• The United States has condemned the sentences as "a gross miscarriage of justice."
• The European Union has also condemned the sentences and called for the junta to respect human rights.

Ongoing Crackdown

The sentencing of the 76 villagers is part of a broader crackdown on dissent by the junta.

Since the coup, the junta has arrested more than 15,000 people and killed more than 2,000.

The junta has also imposed severe restrictions on freedom of speech, assembly, and movement.