This report summarizes AI’s concerns about reported violations in Myanmar during the first four years of SLORC military rule. It’s main subjects are political imprisonment, violations in ethnic minority areas and abuses in the context of insurgencies by armed opposition groups. The scale of political imprisonment is described; victims include members of political parties, students, Buddhists and other religious groups and artists. Violations suffered by ethnic minorities such as the Karen, Kachin, Karenni, Mon and Shan, as well as Muslims in Rakhine State, are described; torture and other cruel treatment frequently occur during forced portering or other forced labour. Also reported are violations in the context of counter-insurgency operations, including abuses by opposition groups.
