AFP
A cabinet minister from Myanmar’s parallel government has publicly apologized to all Rohingya Muslims in a pre-taped video for ignoring the suffering of the persecuted minority group during the past five years of civilian-led government that was overthrown on Feb. 1 in a military coup.
Susana Hla Hla Soe, minister for women, youth, and children’s affairs under the week-old National Unity Government (NUG) acknowledged failings by the civilian government under national leader Aung Sang Suu Kyi with ignoring human rights in ethnic minority areas, including the Rohingya Muslims.
“I myself personally apologize for that,” she said Thursday, adding that while she had been a member of parliament for five years she did not “raise a voice for our brothers and sisters from the ethnic areas, including Rohingya brothers and sisters.”
Myanmar’s Military Jails Soldiers for 20 Years in Rape Case
10 December 2020
7 December 2020
The rape victim. / Min Aung Khine / The Irrawaddy
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By Khine Rola 11 December 2020
SITTWE Myanmar’s military has sentenced three soldiers who raped a Rakhine woman in Rathedaung Township in late June to 20 years in prison.
“The court-martial sentenced the three to 20 years in prison with hard labor. They were then sent to Sittwe Prison,” said Daw Nyo Aye, chairwoman of Rakhine Women’s Network, who attended the trial on Friday.
The three privates, who confessed to committing rape, were prosecuted under the 1959 Defence Services Act and Articles 366, 376 and 144 of the Penal Code on Dec. 3.