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Canonical ID: Q19718465 · Entity type: Person (reference)
| Property | Value | Lang | Source dataset | Source ID | First seen | ||
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Person:notes | On 1 February 2021, the Myanmar Armed Forces (Tatmadaw), led by Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing, staged a coup in Myanmar by setting aside the results of the elections held on 8 November 2020 and by overthrowing the democratically elected government. As part of the coup, Vice-President Myint Swe, functioning as Acting President, declared a state of emergency on 1 February 2021 and transferred the legislative, executive and judicial powers of the state to the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing. On 2 February 2021, the SAC was established to exercise those powers, preventing the democratically elected government from fulfilling its mandate. Mya Tun Oo participated in the meeting of the National Defence and Security Council (NDSC) on 31 January 2022, which extended the state of emergency until 31 July 2022. As member of the NDSC and SAC, General Mya Tun Oo has been directly involved in and responsible for decision-making concerning state functions and is therefore responsible for undermining democracy and the rule of law in Myanmar/Burma. Additionally, the SAC adopted decisions restricting the rights to freedom of expression, including access to information, and peaceful assembly. The military forces and authorities operating under the control of the SAC have committed serious human rights violations since 1 February 2021, killing civilian and unarmed protestors, restricting freedom of assembly and of expression, including by restricting internet access, and through arbitrary arrests and detention of opposition leaders and opponents of the coup. As member of the SAC, General Mya Tun Oo is directly responsible for those repressive decisions and for serious human rights violations. Furthermore, as former Minister of Defence, Mya Tun Oo bears responsibility for the attacks by the military forces in Kayah State on 25 December 2021 killing more than 30 people, including children and humanitarian staff, and mass killings and torture of civilians throughout Myanmar. In his previous role as Minister of Defence, General Mya Tun Oo was moreover responsible for the bombardments, air raids, and other instances of large-scale violence that have been carried out by the Myanmar armed forces during 2022. Therefore, he is responsible for serious human rights violations in Myanmar/Burma. In 2018, the United Nations as well as international civil society organisations reported gross human rights violations and serious violations of international humanitarian law committed in Kachin, Rakhine and Shan States against the Rohingya population by the military and police forces since 2011 and concluded that many of those violations amount to the gravest crimes under international law. Mya Tun Oo was Joint Chief of Staff of the Myanmar Armed Forces (Tatmadaw), the third most senior position in the Tatmadaw, from August 2016 until his appointment as Minister of Defence. In that capacity, he oversaw military operations carried out in Rakhine State and coordinated the various armed forces, including the Army, Navy and Air Force, as well as the use of artillery. He is therefore responsible for those serious violations and abuses against the Rohingya population. General Mya Tun Oo is a member of the Myanmar Armed Forces (Tatmadaw). He was Minister of Defence from 1 February 2021 to 3 August 2023, and is a member of the State Administrative Council (SAC). On 1 February 2023, he was also appointed Deputy Prime Minister. As of 1 August 2023, he also assumed the role of Union Minister of Transport and Communications. He also oversees other junta-controlled supervisory bodies related to foreign investment and trade. | ch_seco_sanctions | ch-seco-44854 | ||||