United Nations investigators revealed clear evidence of systematic torture carried out by Myanmar security forces on Tuesday and named several senior officials responsible.
The Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM), established in 2018 to examine serious violations of international law, detailed victims enduring beatings, electric shocks, strangulation and even the removal of fingernails with pliers.
“We have uncovered significant evidence, including eyewitness testimony, showing systematic torture in Myanmar detention facilities,” said Nicholas Koumjian, head of the mechanism, in a statement accompanying the 16-page report.
The report confirmed that some victims died from torture, with children – often unlawfully detained as proxies for their missing parents – among those subjected to abuse.
A spokesperson for Myanmar’s military-backed government did not immediately respond to requests for comment. According to the U.N. report, the government has ignored more than two dozen requests from the investigative team for information and access to the country.
