44 A NATION LEFT BEHIND Conclusion During the COVID-19 crisis, the NLD ad- cost civilians their lives. ministration has systematically and strategi- This was publicly sealed on 21 April in a cally ceded power to the Myanmar military statement127 issued by State Counsellor Aung through a political partnership that, in less than San Suu Kyi herself, who applauded the armed two months, has further diminished the peo- forces for defending the country against ethnic ple’s rights to human security, access to infor- “terrorists” whom she alleged were undermining mation and free expression. In war-torn com- coronavirus response efforts: “ munities, this alliance has and will continue to We pay tribute to the members of the Tatmadaw who have discharged their duties with courage and dedication, and sacrificed their lives to defend the lives and property of our people from the ULA/AA terrorist group, who have been engaged in destructive activities at this time when the Government, the people and well-wishers are all engaged in endeavours for the prevention, containment and cure of COVID-19.” Office of State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, 21 April 2020 If the war crimes, crimes against human- the cover of the pandemic with impunity, as ity, and genocide of which the Myanmar state was noted by the former UN Special Rappor- stands accused had not already made apparent teur, Yanghee Lee, in her outgoing statement the military’s intentions toward its own people, on 29 April: “For decades, [the Myanmar mili- then the air strikes, artillery shelling, arbitrary tary’s] tactics have intentionally maximised ci- arrests, torture, and extrajudicial killings during vilian suffering.”128 If the government is sincere COVID-19 has. Even with ongoing proceedings about differentiating itself from the military to address their criminal accountability at the with which it is now intertwined, it is impera- ICC and ICJ for the perpetration of heinous tive that they grant international accountability crimes, Myanmar military has continued com- mechanisms unobstructed access to Myanmar, mitting grave human rights violations under not only as a probe into current abuses, but also 127 Office of the State Counsellor. “Office of the State Counsellor releases statement expressing sadness over civilian casualties in Rakhine, Chin states.” 22 April 2020 (Originally published on 21 April 2020). Global New Light of Myanmar. Available at: https://www.globalnewlightofmyanmar.com/office-of-the-state-counsellor-releases-statement-expressing-sadness-over-civilian-casualties-in-rakhine-chin-states/ 128 UN OHCHR. “Myanmar: “Possible war crimes and crimes against humanity ongoing in Rakhine and Chin States” – UN Special Rapporteur Yanghee Lee.” 29 April 2020. Available at: https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/ DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=25838&LangID=E