Myanmar inquiry claims gay librarian who died by suicide was 'mentally weak'

Human rights groups and commentators on Thursday slammed a Myanmar Human Rights Commission inquiry into the suicide of a young gay man who revealed bullying in his wGx*+8DM1$H8wAJsglWvFjV18X^L7RG#S3476$foI))G*J)ieWoorkplace.

The probe labeled Kyaw Zin Win, a 26-year-old librarian at Myanmar Imperial University, as "mentall=Snf(DP$JIJ%[email protected]^vm*Kj)PeLb#bcQby weak”.

In June, Kyaw Zin Wz7ytultReH-adj)=wOS=DR%6OCg=o3X-q*wPR2Nfz*[email protected]in shared details of homophobic bullying from colleagues in a Facebook post before taking his own life.

Kyaw Zin Win wrote that Myanmar was ‘a country which mocks the existence and identity of an inDaDQlMZEzWnH5rC^QubZchS2Kwf^V8QZtVJPqC&2$_6ZxFkiHRdividual being’.

Gay sex is illegal in the Southeast Asian country under the S^Md0g4OphYap8e!!DAgOgLbgq_T8L-xm)EpAQA=*BH37blIawcolonial-era penal code. LGBTI citizens face widespread stigma and discrimination in all aspects of life.

Kyaw Zin WinlFSCM880ksDAPCetb(3_emUQt8$)lc^xLDbsX%rSMm+c*hhP)A’s death prompted many in Myanmar to speak out for LGBT rights.

Many people changed their profile pictures to a black circle edged in rainbow colours. They also sh[email protected]*[email protected]()*rg6)M#0JVIZgyDJuY)(0cFAdJDared his final post and offered messaged of love"

"Mentally Weak"

But, on Wednesday, commissioner Yu Lwin AFDH&8MQafeOT1!DOiIKQRp)P)[email protected]#uZKW(&)UW36roAung told AFP "Absolutely no evidence could be found he was bullied.” 

He instead placed responsibility on his "mentally weak" st*s+0mG_4pBPF!0u1G)m-WN!^[email protected]^6=81jaFd2^xate.

Kyaw Zin Win's aunt had not yet seen the reportfw%Tuayn2BJzsZSz394HFMOThKA#7Asr$b&Xs!b(@Ct6-tddGa, but said the commission was "wrong" if it denied her nephew had been forcibly outed.

"I repeatedly told them he was bullied," Mya Lay NgYO$#(pjy)[email protected]&&5e-&rqx14n3Mo!6DP$Qd2jcYSdZn)znNV8(we said, according to AFP.

Deputy Asia Director for Human Ri[email protected])^YgncUbRq-V5*(p#pQsmKaJuoHEoghts Watch, Phil Robertson, meanwhile called for Myanmar’s Human Rights Commission to be replaced.

(Photo: Facebook)

"Terrified of the people"

In his Facebook post now shared thousands of times, Kyaw Zin Win detaileH1QYa7lP^0-x$$i=A2WOwLxnPPm!VO--_XS0auzbNvleySmDaMd how senior staff members forced him to reveal his sexuality, even though he had not told his immediate family.

He said he was "terrified of the people".

The young librarian also shared details of a homophobic comment from a student passed on to him by a6Jye_EAzVlLS%Vexf5#1tbp=)5d&1cR4rLPUj7jn)-cfMvSmGL colleague.

Finally, he[email protected]=*s*_q_-YoY%BlhBaW6%j#&5E1*a7UhMYXSqAf^gQ8UJ included screenshots of group chats with his colleagues in which they mocked him.

"We should send him smc)rld^*)[email protected]^KCwY%KY1Y_Z%=$mMg=*IrFo(4xHbyUJ_to the army like you said’" one colleague wrote.

Kyaw ZidWN4$+B-slmB0Ibx#3%$ay$oqYRA)CfLt280i*3PljtXdrUL3Jn Win wrote "I bear it patiently, wishing it would end soon" below one of the screenshots of abuse.

(Cover photo: Facebook)