UN Expert Warns of Myanmar Civilian Attacks

Updated: 31 October 2026, 1:33 PM IST
Curated by Vishaljeet Singh, Lisbon, Portugal

A United Nations human rights investigator has accused Myanmar’s military-backed authorities of deliberately attacking civilians to spread fear and force communities into submission, warning that continued weapons purchases from China, Russia and other countries are helping sustain the conflict and deepen an already catastrophic human rights crisis.

Kelley Currie, the UN Human Rights Council’s Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, raised the concerns during a briefing to journalists at the United Nations. She urged governments engaging with Myanmar’s military-backed leadership to demand concrete steps in return, including a reduction in violence, the release of political prisoners and inclusive dialogue aimed at ending the conflict.

Her warning comes as Myanmar continues to experience the consequences of the military takeover in February 2021. The coup removed the elected civilian government led by Aung San Suu Kyi, triggered nationwide protests and was followed by a violent crackdown. Armed resistance subsequently expanded into a prolonged civil war involving the military and multiple opposition forces.

Foreign arms supplies remain central to the conflict

Currie warned that Myanmar’s military continues to benefit from international weapons purchases and external relationships that allow it to maintain its military capabilities.

China and Russia were specifically identified in the reporting on her remarks as important sources connected to the military’s ability to sustain its operations. The military has retained a significant advantage in air power and equipment, while opponents continue to challenge its control across large parts of the country.

The issue extends beyond the supply of weapons. International engagement can also provide political legitimacy and economic opportunities to a military-backed administration facing widespread criticism over its conduct.

Currie expressed concern that some regional governments appear increasingly willing to restore or deepen relations without securing meaningful commitments on human rights. She argued that diplomatic engagement should be linked to measurable changes, rather than treated as an unconditional return to normal relations.

Civilian areas increasingly exposed to aerial attacks

The UN’s concerns are supported by a separate body of investigative work documenting attacks on civilian locations.

The Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM), led by Nicholas Koumjian, reported in August 2026 that its investigations had identified a pattern of deliberate aerial attacks on homes, schools, medical facilities, religious buildings and camps for internally displaced people.

The mechanism said the military had increasingly relied on aircraft, drones and paramotors. Such attacks can leave civilians with little time to recognise the danger, escape or find shelter.

In an update delivered to the UN General Assembly’s Third Committee on 27 October, Koumjian said investigations into attacks involving drones and paramotors had intensified. He cited recent incidents involving a monastery in Sagaing Region, a church complex in Chin State and a market in Rakhine State where more than 50 people were reported killed.

The mechanism is collecting evidence about the attacks, including information that may help establish command structures and identify those responsible. It is also investigating allegations of serious abuses by armed groups opposed to the military, emphasising that investigations must follow evidence regardless of the identity or political affiliation of alleged perpetrators.

Political prisoners and a shrinking space for dissent

The human rights crisis is not limited to the battlefield. Detention, intimidation and restrictions on political activity continue to affect people across the country.

According to figures cited in the Associated Press report from the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, more than 32,000 people have been detained since the 2021 takeover, with at least 15,000 still behind bars.

Those figures underline the scale of the challenge facing any effort to restore political dialogue. The release of political detainees, protection of fundamental freedoms and the creation of conditions for genuine participation remain central demands from international human rights advocates.

Currie has called on governments dealing with Myanmar’s authorities to press for the release of political prisoners and a credible process involving all relevant parties. Without such steps, diplomatic engagement risks leaving the underlying crisis untouched.

Rohingya communities face renewed risks

Currie also warned of the possibility of renewed violence against the Rohingya and other non-Buddhist and non-Bamar minorities.

She said groups associated with hate speech and the incitement of violence had become more active online and in political spaces under the military-backed authorities’ control. She described these developments as warning signs that could precede further violence.

Her concern is linked to proceedings at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which is considering allegations that Myanmar violated the Genocide Convention during the military crackdown against the Rohingya in 2016 and 2017.

The court’s eventual judgment could become a major moment for accountability and for the Rohingya community. Currie warned that governments and international organisations should closely monitor the situation and take the risk of retaliatory or politically driven violence seriously.

The Rohingya crisis has already forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee Myanmar, with many seeking refuge in Bangladesh. The continuing insecurity makes safe, voluntary and dignified return extremely difficult.

Economic collapse and corruption help sustain military power

Currie also highlighted the economic structures that help the military-backed authorities finance their operations.

She described a shrinking formal economy alongside the expansion of illicit economic activity, corruption and patronage networks. These systems, she argued, help generate resources for military equipment, surveillance and internal security operations.

Economic mismanagement has weakened ordinary livelihoods, while informal and illegal revenue channels can benefit powerful networks connected to the authorities.

This creates a difficult cycle: conflict damages the economy, economic hardship increases civilian vulnerability, and illicit financial activity can provide resources that help sustain the conflict.

International efforts to address Myanmar therefore face a challenge that extends beyond diplomatic statements or restrictions on individual military figures. Tracking the financial networks and supply chains that support military operations is also important.

ASEAN faces a difficult diplomatic choice

Myanmar’s neighbours have a direct stake in the crisis. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) previously criticised the military takeover and called for an end to violence through its regional diplomatic framework.

However, the prospect of warmer engagement between some regional governments and Myanmar’s military-backed leadership has raised concerns among human rights advocates.

Currie’s message was that engagement should not be unconditional. Governments can use diplomatic contact to press for reduced violence, political prisoner releases and inclusive negotiations. Without clear benchmarks, renewed engagement could be interpreted as acceptance of the existing situation.

ASEAN’s challenge is to maintain regional dialogue while ensuring that its approach does not weaken pressure for a peaceful and inclusive political settlement.

Accountability remains a long-term priority

The IIMM is not a court and does not prosecute individuals. Its role is to collect, preserve and analyse evidence of serious international crimes so that national and international authorities can use it in legal proceedings.

The mechanism said its investigations draw on more than 1,600 sources, including over 750 witness accounts, as well as photographs, videos, documents, maps, satellite imagery and forensic material.

It has shared evidence with authorities pursuing accountability through international and national legal processes, including proceedings related to crimes against the Rohingya.

The work is significant because accountability cases can take years. Preserving evidence now may help future prosecutors establish what happened, identify responsible individuals and build cases that meet legal standards.

What happens next?

Myanmar’s crisis is unlikely to be resolved through military pressure alone. A durable settlement will require a reduction in violence, protection for civilians, the release of political detainees and a political process that includes the country’s diverse communities and relevant stakeholders.

The international response will also matter. Governments supplying weapons, maintaining diplomatic ties or providing economic opportunities to Myanmar’s authorities face growing calls to consider how their actions affect the conflict.

For ordinary people, the immediate priority remains safety. Families continue to face displacement, insecurity, economic hardship and uncertainty about the future.

Currie’s warning places renewed attention on the link between foreign arms supplies, military operations and civilian suffering. The UN investigative mechanism’s work adds an evidentiary dimension, documenting alleged crimes and preserving material for future accountability.

The central test for the international community is whether concern can be translated into practical pressure: fewer weapons reaching forces accused of attacking civilians, stronger protection for vulnerable communities, and credible diplomatic efforts towards an inclusive end to the conflict.