1 February 2026
Five years after the military seized state power, human rights violations and violence continue unabated across Myanmar, according to a statement released today by grassroots civil society organizations.
The groups said that throughout the five years since the coup, civilians have faced near-daily killings, the burning and destruction of villages, forced displacement, and arbitrary arrest and torture. They stressed that these acts amount to deliberate and systematic war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The statement also noted that the junta has continued airstrikes targeting civilians and the torching of entire villages, with women, children, and the elderly killed or injured indiscriminately.
To compensate for declining military strength, the junta has enforced an unjust conscription law and is forcibly recruiting young people, while also restricting access to education and employment, the groups said. As a result, they warned, the future of the younger generation is increasingly at risk.
On the economic front, the statement highlighted that currency depreciation and soaring commodity prices have made daily life increasingly difficult for the public.
Civil society organizations described the elections organized by the military as “sham elections,” stating that polls held under the 2008 Constitution only serve to prolong military dictatorship and do not represent the will of the people.
They further emphasized the need to end impunity for those responsible for war crimes, expressing full support for justice and accountability efforts through international mechanisms, including the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM).
The organizations reaffirmed their commitment to stand with the people until power is returned to the public and the military dictatorship is completely dismantled.
