‘Peace cannot be restored if human rights violations continue’—SHRF spokesperson Ying Leng Harn

As Myanmar’s military junta intensifies its airstrikes and military campaigns across Shan State, the Shan Human Rights Foundation (SHRF) is calling for restraint: Not just from the regime, but from all armed actors. In this interview, SHRF spokesperson Ying Leng Harn urges ethnic armed organisations to avoid repeating the junta’s atrocities and to prioritise the protection of civilians amid escalating conflict.Since 1990, The Shan Human Rights Foundation, based on the Thai-Myanmar border, has been documenting human rights abuses in Shan State. Today, the organisation focuses on crimes committed by the junta since the coup.A new report by SHRF released this month reveals that junta troops from Light Infantry Division 99 carried out unlawful killings, gang rape, and widespread destruction of homes in Mongmit, northern Shan State. The group has also flagged abuses by ethnic armed groups, such as the MNDAA shooting protesters in Kutkai, urging all sides to uphold human rights standards.Myanmar Now: Can you tell us a little bit about what kind of work the Shan Human Rights Foundation has been conducting recently? Ying Leng Harn (YLH): We are tracking and documenting junta airstrikes in northern Shan State, as well as the excessive mining of natural resources in eastern Shan State.Since Shan State has been a conflict zone with ongoing fighting, there isn't much change in the killings and shootings between the two sides. The situation is much like it was before— bad then, and still bad now. Following the coup, as clashes between the junta and ethnic armed groups have escalated, attacks on civilians by the junta have also increased. These include airstrikes, artillery fire, and landmines, with the landmine threat worsening significantly. The primary concern is the airstrikes. Since the coup, most civilian deaths in northern Shan State have been attributed to junta airstrikes. A monastery in Mongmit Town lies in ruins after intense fighting in January 2024. (Photo: Supplied) MN: Can you highlight some of the most severe human rights violations that have taken place in northern Shan since the coup? YLH: There have been many cases that could be considered the worst. The junta council has committed numerous crimes, including airstrikes that caused mass casualties in Hseni, Kyaukme, and Nawnghkio towns. Particularly in Nawnghkio, there have been two or three bombings of tea shops where civilians were present. In January 2024, during clashes between the KIA and the junta council, women in Mongmit were brutally raped. Civilians in southern and central Shan regions were massacred. With so many incidents, it's hard to pinpoint which ones were the most severe. Our documentation shows that since the coup, there have been at least 15 incidents in Shan State involving airstrikes and massacres, with massacres resulting in the deaths of ten or more people. And given the number of cases, it’s difficult to determine which is the most significant. These incidents occurred in Pekon, Moebye, Pinlaung, Ywangan, Nawnghkio, Kyaukme, Mongmit, and several in Hseni town.MN: After Operation 1027, in regions now controlled by ethnic armed groups, where the junta is no longer present, what human rights violations has your group observed? And what changes have occurred in the social and economic conditions? YLH: There have been land confiscations, and more notably, MNDAA troops have shot civilians protesting in Kutkai. Although arrests have occurred, no significant cases have been reported. It's still a revolutionary period, and while the ethnic armed groups control these areas, peace has not yet been restored. Therefore, the social and economic conditions remain similar to those in other conflict-affected regions.MN: Since the junta's retreat from certain areas, have local communities expressed concerns about issues like conscription and tax collection by ethnic armed groups? YLH: We don't have detailed information on these cases yet. Given our limited manpower and field access, we are primarily focused on documenting the human rights violations committed by the junta. Among these, the airstrikes are the most severe.Whether under the control of the junta or ethnic armed groups, human rights standards must be maintained without exception. The revolutionary period does not excuse any loosening of these standards. The key issue is that, given the current situation, we cannot fully defeat the junta at this time. We’ve only taken control of certain regions. If human rights violations persist in the long run, it would ultimately benefit the junta. All armed groups, not just the MNDAA, must educate their lower-ranking troops and strictly enforce human rights standards, as well as the group’s laws and regulations.MN: Following the complete removal of the junta from certain areas of Shan State, could conflicts between ethnic armed groups in northern Shan State impact local communities? YLH: It should be resolved through direct discussions between the armed groups themselves. The armed groups are separate from the local population, and I urge them not to involve the people. This is a matter that requires long-term monitoring. Currently, there may be conflicts and disagreements among unarmed civilians, ranging from minor to significant. Similarly, tensions exist between armed groups. However, these issues are expected to be resolved in the long term.Due to our limited manpower and technological constraints, we are currently focusing on documenting human rights violations by the junta. While we are also monitoring violations by ethnic armed groups, we are unable to conduct in-depth investigations because of these limitations.MN: How do you respond to reports of human rights violations committed by ethnic armed groups?YLH: The resistance forces are fighting the junta because they oppose it. That’s why I urge them not to act like the junta. I ask them to show mercy to our people and not walk the path the junta wants us to follow. Please turn towards the people and listen to their voices. MN: What message do you have for the Shan people living amid the ongoing conflict?YLH: Despite the conflict between armed groups, we have lived together peacefully. Racial and religious tensions are rare in northern Shan, and I urge communities to distinguish between the armed groups’ conflicts and the daily struggles faced by civilians. We encourage the armed groups to resolve their conflicts among themselves, while the civilians stay out of their struggles and continue to live together peacefully. And with the ongoing threat of junta airstrikes, I urge everyone to diligently follow the precautionary measures to keep themselves safe. Displaced residents from Nant Phat Kar seeking refuge in nearby forests, northern Shan State, on January 26, 2024. (Photo: Myat Pan / Myanmar Now)

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