172 Myanmar groups demand justice, six months after rape case in PDF Battalion 20

Photo: MDY-PDF Women soldiers seen in December 2023 (AFP) Mizzima More than 170 civil society organizations and revolutionary forces issued a statement on 2 July demanding justice for a female People’s Defense Force (PDF) soldier sexually assaulted within Battalion 20 in Yinmarbin District, Sagaing Region, more than six months ago, saying authorities have taken no effective action on the case. According to a joint statement signed by 172 organizations, the soldier suffered sexual violence and other human rights violations on 26 December 2025. The Ministry of Defense (MoD) of the opposition National Unity Government (NUG) announced on 11 March that suspects, including the battalion commander, had been detained for interrogation. However, the statement said there has been no update on the suspects since, nor any effective action taken. On 13 March, the Court of Inquiry under the NUG’s Military Department and PDF General Headquarters summoned the victim to appear in person within one week. The summons was not delivered to her directly, however — it was passed through an Indaw Military Region official close to her father. The statement said the victim was beaten by the battalion commander and other soldiers during the early stages of the case, leaving her severely traumatized. Citing mental and physical health concerns as well as security risks, she requested to be questioned online via Zoom instead of appearing in person. The official who delivered the summons rejected the request, stating they had “no responsibility to relay replies back to the court.” The Court of Inquiry made no further contact with the victim until 20 June, the statement said. Direct communication was only re-established after revolutionary comrades intervened to facilitate the connection. The organizations also expressed profound disappointment over the NUG’s failure to mention “discrimination based on race and religion” in its public statements on the case — an issue the public and various organizations had strongly urged the opposition government to address. Of the three initial demands, only the relocation of the victim and her family to a safe area has been resolved, according to the statement, achieved solely through the efforts of women’s groups and revolutionary forces rather than any NUG government action. The organizations reiterated their remaining two demands: that all individuals involved in the rape be investigated and prosecuted, or that an independent commission of inquiry be established; and that justice be delivered swiftly for women and children victimized during the revolutionary period, alongside practical implementation of anti-violence and non-discrimination policies. The post 172 Myanmar groups demand justice, six months after rape case in PDF Battalion 20 appeared first on ENG.MIZZIMA.COM.