by Miceál O’Hurley
SOMEWHERE IN MYANMAR – NUG Minister for Women, Youth & Children, Her Excellency Ms. Susanna Hla Hla Soe, will appear on ‘In Conversation This Week with Miceál O’Hurley’ on Monday, 24 January 2022 at 1500hrs (GMT). The Interview has been recorded via secure, encrypted signal for the protection of Her Excellency who, along with the democratically elected Members of the Myanmar Parliament, which was disbanded by the Military Junta on 1 February 2021, is wanted for arrest by the authoritarian military regime.
The Minister for Women, Youth & Children will give an update on the current situation on-the-ground in Myanmar/Burma including the plight of those under the purview of her Ministry who remain particularly at-risk to the brutality of the Military Junta that took control of Myanmar and unlawfully disbanded the Parliament, subjecting its members to summary arrest. Thousands of citizens in Myanmar/Burma have disappeared into prison where torture and murder are routinefor engaging in lawful, democratic and civil-society programmes. Over 1,000 people have been murdered by the Military Junta and there are widespread reports of gross Human Rights abuses. The Military Junta has shut-down the country’s free-and-independent media outlets, arrested media workers and journalists and has imposed a virtual internet shut-down, depriving independent information from being confirmed.
Since New Year, the Military Junta’s jets have rained-down devastating attacks on civilians, murdering and killing women, men and children and destroying hospitals in violation of their legal obligations not to target non-combatants. The number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) has reportedly grown to over 1 million person. with the people fleeing across borders in the hopes of finding shelter and safety. Widespread food insecurity is reported and the use of landmines by the Military Junta in agricultural areas are making fields, flocks and herds unsustainable in the food-chain as well as maiming and killing innocent people.
