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Published
on Sep 9, 2004
SPDC officials continue
to rape and murder women
with impunity, says the
Women's League of urma
(WLB) in its latest report,
"System of Impunity",
released yesterday.
The event was held on
the sidelines of a senior
official meeting at the
UNbuilding in Bangkok.
The new report detailed
125 cases of sexual violence
against women in ethnic
states and central areas
of Burma. Almost all of
the incidents took place
during 2003 and 2004.
The regime has repeatedly
denied the prevalence
of military rape in Burma.
"System of Impunity"
reveals the same patterns
of continuing sexual violence:
rape, gang rape, sexual
slavery and the murder
of victims" against
women and of denial by
the regime, said Nang
Hseng Noung, secretary-general
of the WLB, an umbrella
group of eleven women
ethnic
groups from Burma.
Hseng Noung said the perpetrators
are confident of impunity
from the Burmese military
regime.
Rangoon's denials and
ongoing sexual violence
against women was also
raised in "Licence
to Rape" and "Shattering
Silences", published
in June 2002 and April
2004, respectively, by
two Thai-based women's-rights
organisations.
"License to Rape"
documents 173 incidents
of rape and other forms
of sexual violence committed
by Burmese soldiers against
625 girls and women in
Shan State. "Shattering
Silences" reveals
the same pattern of the
use of rape by the Burmese
military as a war strategy
in Karen State.
The Thai government cracked
down on the group after
those publications came
out, including intimidation
that led to the closure
of their office, forcing
them underground.
How can we achieve peace
if the situation keeps
going on like this?, asked
Hseng Noung.
The WLB representative
called for active support
by Asean members for efforts
by the UN and other key
stakeholders to achieve
peace, human rights and
democracy in Burma.
Hseng Noung also called
for Asean members to help
women in Burma by not
providing arms to the
regime and reviewing their
policies.
Regional cooperation with
the regime is placing
the lives of women and
girls in Burma at risk,
she said.
Subhatra Bhumiprabhas
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