New research—from Security Force Monitor, a project of the Columbia Law Human Rights Institute in the United States—linking alleged violations to soldiers and commanders suggests actions are institutionalized.
The study, Under Whose Command?, covers a period of 12 years until March 30, 2023 and sheds new light on Myanmar’s notoriously secretive military—revealing the links between low-level soldiers accused of human rights abuses against civilians and their commanding officers and beyond.
“In many areas of the country, almost every single person who ever held command had disappearances, killings, rape, or instances of torture allegedly committed by units under their command,” the report said. “This is particularly true in areas of longstanding conflict and concern for human rights abuses.”
Trawling through thousands of data sources from March 30, 2011 when Senior General Min Aung Hlaing became Commander-in-Chief, the research found 64 percent (51 of 79) of all senior army commanders had alleged disappearances, killings, rape, or instances of torture committed by units under their command.
In addition, 54 percent (28 of 51) of the commanders were promoted in rank after at least one alleged disappearance, killing, rape, or instance of torture was committed by the units under their command. Of the others, nine could not be promoted in rank further.
Other Myanmar experts who were not involved in the research said the work could be useful for accountability and building war crimes and genocide cases against the armed forces.
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