These horrific tactics are being used against Christian ethnic groups in Burma. Please read more at Catholic Activist Speaks of Unspeakable Violations as Military Continues to Use Rape as a Weapon of War, by Francis Khoo Thwe, at Asia News.
"The Burmese military is still using rape and sexual abuse of civilians as a "weapon of war." Between 2010 to the present, documented reports indicate that soldiers raped at least a hundred women and girls, especially in areas inhabited by ethnic minorities, this according to a report recently released by the Women's League of Burma.
"The NGO's survey shows that 47 of the cases documented were gang rapes and that 28 of the women were either killed or died of their injuries. In many of these cases, soldiers did not hesitate from raping girls as young as eight years old. For activists, this makes constitutional reform that more urgent in order to ensure civilian control of the military.
"The Burmese government was quick to reject the charges. "It's not the policy of our Tatmadaw (military) to use rapes as weapons," noted Ye Htut, a spokesman for President Thein Sein (a former general and prime minister under the military regime, now president of a semi-civilian government)..."
"...Interviewed by AsiaNews, Catholic activist Khon Ja Labang, a former member of the Kachin Peace Network who is involved in peace building in areas affected by ethnic conflict, confirmed reports about violence against women in regions inhabited by ethnic minorities.
"Rape "is a weapon used by the military to seize Kachin territory. No one can return to their villages of origin as long as the military is around," [Catholic activist Khon Ja Labang] explained.
" "There may be signs of reforms in business and the economy," the activist added. But "in other fields, there are no noteworthy changes" and abuses are an indication of "serious deficiencies in security."
"Soldiers continues to commit "unspeakable" violations, which humanitarian groups and associations, including the Kachin Lawyers Group, try to alleviate "by providing legal aid to victims." "
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