Myanmar’s Military Junta is infamous for its long history of committing crimes against humanity upon the defenseless civilians of Burma. It comes as no surprise that the junta would carry out arbitrary abductions against the public.

On February 1st, 2021 the State Administrative Council (SAC) detained democratically elected Members of Parliament from the National League for Democracy (NLD) Party on the day of the inauguration. President U Win Myint and State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi were one of many that were apprehended that early morning. Along with other NLD members they now face false allegations accused by the SAC.

This lead to the people coming out to peacefully protest their dissatisfaction. Shortly after, the SAC began carrying out arbitrary abductions; raiding homes at night at which point the SAC had cut off forms of communications such as telephone lines and internet access. 

Their abductions are not merely meant for interrogative purposes but to scare the public of what they could carry out on any person that dares to speak up against injustice. Methods of torture, sexual assault, religious-based hate crimes, homophobic and transphobic violence, and other forms of corporal punishment are implemented during their so-called interrogations. Those that have been released have acquired heavy mental trauma and some have been made physically disabled. People are taken alive and some end up going back home in body bags or are disappeared completely.

NLD members have also died during interrogation and some have died due to the junta’s neglect of the detainees’ health. 

Ths SAC abducts family members and loved ones if they are unable to imprison the person they are seeking. A girl as young as four had been abducted and punished by the junta as well as many teenaged children. They also target journalists, celebrities, artists, poets, cartoonist, and other’s with a platform, to ensure their crimes and the truth is kept hidden. Foreign journalists and American journalists have been detained without proper cause.

As of October 10th, 2021, Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) reports that 8,835 of those accounted for. Out of the total arrests, 7,164 people are still in detention, where they continue to suffer torturous interrogations and are kept in cells unfit for any human being. 

We, the Burmese-American community and allies, appeal to the United States government to advocate in securing the unconditional release of all political prisoners of Burma and ensure their right to safe participation in the democratization process in Burma.