Rights group condemns Myanmar's coup regime rebranding effort

LONDON

The Burma Human Rights Network released a statement on Monday condemning the Myanmar coup regime's attempt to rebrand itself as a caretaker government.

“Efforts to rebrand themselves to the international community are designed to lure world governments into cooperation under the pretence that the military doesn’t intend to keep control of the country,” said a statement by the London-based group.

The group added that Burma’s military junta has been “conducting genocide since 2017” and committed “numerous crimes against humanity since the coup of (February) 2021.”

“A snake can shed its skin but that doesn’t change what it is,” said Kyaw Win, the group's executive director.

“It would be deeply foolish for any government to put trust in the military’s caretaker government or to offer it any legitimacy. Since the military has usurped power from the Burmese people in February, they have killed, tortured, and starved the people of Burma (Myanmar) and they have no intention of giving up the power they illegally seized from a democratically elected government. All efforts should be made to remove the military from power and to restore it to the people of Burma.”

The group called on the international community to reject the name-change and boost its efforts to implement sanctions on the junta and ban weapons sales to it.

“The International Community must side with the National Unity Government, which legitimately represents the will of the people of Burma,” the statement added.

“This new attempt to pose as a transitional government shows desperation by the junta and pressure must continue to ensure they relinquish power once and for all.”

The network is a London-based group that works for human rights, minority rights, and religious freedom in Myanmar.

Since seizing power this February, Myanmar's military arrested the ruling party leadership, including State Counsellor Aung Suu Kyi and former President Win Myint, triggering nationwide anti-junta demonstrations. Since then, junta forces have killed some 1,000 people and detained some 5,400.

*Writing Ahmet Gencturk