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

Human rights groups and commentators on 4iLOFTqB7+A1Xxa)T(t-jz@4-g21LKa4nD8XLwI4h*87d%nRJTThursday slammed a Myanmar Human Rights Commission inquiry into the suicide of a young gay man who revealed bullying in his workplace.

The probe lab-S_WR4FjriZa8ej1vSB3)qGvJvPwGRAG0E!Dh)49f*l8YRCVhpeled Kyaw Zin Win, a 26-year-old librarian at Myanmar Imperial University, as "mentally weak”.

In June, Kyaw Zin Win shared details of homophobic bullying from colleagues in a Fac1X$2wOQJz*J0Sx3eQjvgds+8NZdbIYUV+KM%7c(#MNw^@i#VFSebook post before taking his own life.

Kyaw Zin Win wrote that Myanmar was ‘a country which mockgVA3kS#PM(+xW-U%&tdK!tPTgr5g$0VilTESsrABU2(nFzcaFAs the existence and identity of an individual being’.

Gay sex is illegal in the Southeast Asian country under the colonial-era pAPk2SP3&*rW16)YDjW5oEhrBN!GmqbvBd8$@nYwhQu4ghdq*Zyenal code. LGBTI citizens face widespread stigma and discrimination in all aspects of life.

Kyaw Zin Win’s death prompted many in MyanmgE0P@F-Ir9$a=V$gyZzeJcRF(NdtRw=+Dj=c+7o2B^GgX-%YNxar to speak out for LGBT rights.

Many people changed their profile pictures to a black circle edged in rainbow colours. ThPIJ-6Nxi^f!&T5UPHZKGr%jBM)_H991K9$m-Gjj7w9BIWSJC*&ey also shared his final post and offered messaged of love"

"Mentally Weak"

But, on Wednesday, commissioner Y-gP*T+XrCzmJO85LcS2ujmiT6NeTiLhcb2oV=6pM0u+w(CmYPju Lwin Aung told AFP "Absolutely no evidence could be found he was bullied.” 

He instead placed responsibility on his "mentaEp!zcsyPeZpPrRSPPIg6%q868JMlmuIr20HCM8HO$y&IN8qM-elly weak" state.

Kyaw Zin Win's aunt had not yet seen the report, but said the commission was "wrong" if it denied eD7+U+BJB*SjdD-c@m4S2I@U&&_v0fBd6hK47JuF2ul)omJqAkher nephew had been forcibly outed.

"I repeatedly told them he was bullied," Mya Lay Ngwe said, according toylz(bPO9IdSmzMmJNJ+(THdlR$7nCYgnds&XKFhq(K6y$#d$1_ AFP.

Deputy Asia Director for Human Rights Watcr4QnbfUNtbz5y2uhR1h_!&^-*eD*!LATVSSSe3Aoxi1X0F&-Vbh, 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 dL7BwKx-msV0EyspY=hJeFS7a6q5NY8Y$2ar9b2gCHa8TzhTz$setailed 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 shazBNeR40&m!Z#rQm2(b@H&T95!3#Lwd*bsljlu=$27jOvdcGu@jred details of a homophobic comment from a student passed on to him by a colleague.

Finally, he included screenshots of group cHv*QM$=U6%!r!k&NbMh4zumgOgX@FH#5e3Paj2JZGXMo1NnHbDhats with his colleagues in which they mocked him.

"We shoul$CIRiwSo3UOx&LuUtw7%!ZNp7esbFFbuB#u1dHt7%=508oRiSxd send him to the army like you said’" one colleague wrote.

Kyaw Zin Win wrote "I bear it patiently, wishing it would end soon" belojDKFf6$n-nHaHPX&h9WuMadReBlIAk5571R-Eq^c_^WOkhb7UHw one of the screenshots of abuse.

(Cover photo: Facebook)