UN Investigation Finds Pattern of Myanmar Military Air Raids, Torture and Sexual Violence

Illustration of the Myanmar military. (Wikimedia Commons/Mil.Ru)

JAKARTA - A UN investigative mechanism on Tuesday said their investigation found "patterns of deliberate aerial attacks on civilians, arbitrary detention, torture, and sexual violence" committed by the Myanmar military.

The Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM) said in its annual report that military attacks increased ahead of the general election in January and continued since then.

"People across Myanmar are not only living under the constant threat of violence, but also have to face the deep and long-lasting impact of the suffering they are experiencing," said Nicholas Koumjian, head of the mechanism, quoted by Anadolu (12/8).

"This confirms the need for urgent steps to hold those involved accountable."

The report, which covers the period from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026, details attacks on homes, schools, medical facilities, religious buildings, and internally displaced person camps, resulting in deaths, injuries, and destruction.

The report said the increasing use of paramotor and unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) by the military made attacks more difficult for civilians to detect and reduced their ability to flee or seek shelter.

Investigators have also gathered evidence of arbitrary detention, torture, and sexual violence in military-run facilities.

The mechanism states that their investigation is based on more than 1,600 sources, including more than 750 witness statements, as well as photos, videos, documents, geospatial images, and forensic evidence.