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

Human rights groups and commentators on Thursday slammed a Myanmar Hum@x)pqv(KNf9MVObsnmg8vYbV-z2XUPb79qa-uIX1iY5UF8$I(Zan Rights Commission inquiry into the suicide of a young gay man who revealed bullying in his workplace.

The probe labeled Kyaw Zin Win, a 26-year-old librarian at Myanmar Imperial UniversithR2kk+cvSgr(!yuDAmfQW2nyJ89@9I!TCXYzSklJ*&n9Cc44S-y, as "mentally weak”.

In June, Kyaw Zin Win shared details of homophobiAbYbKh-O+rr#*cQkbqq2e7(5IZM-!T@OgkjJGhU^v9N!jw!0uXc 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 inO7bPLEFXkBCr=O4BSH#AAJE$K^Ixp-Qi0gG8jw)FYsI0nOH-)Sdividual being’.

Gay sex is illegal in the Southeast Asian countryb(B3sB&y7jL#4pd*7oK*YBpUkFo-aYOqRtqKCmqog_dF2aRJ6b under the colonial-era penal code. LGBTI citizens face widespread stigma and discrimination in all aspects of life.

Kyaw Zin Win’s death prompted many in Myanmar to speak out for LGBT rigO$JffsWAk7k(^Sh(l=8p5YhnCC$MK+=eR7VgZFQ_6Zv2V&UAA5hts.

Many people changed their profile pictures to a black circle edged in rainbow colours. TheyuSjGQEF6vwZ6pc(qByKN4mO!g((gG+ynka+7QXd)*XiVsf60t! also shared his final post and offered messaged of love"

"Mentally Weak"

But, on Wednesday, commissioner Yu Lwin Aung told AFxz0=SlUysPQgd2a+14AX4cNatb)mRkg(60A79j_JOwYN7&F@2SP "Absolutely no evidence could be found he was bullied.” 

He instead placed responsibility oXiVgxgwj+(9mL+Mo##sIiAdI*Jwsy)AoX4ia%V*dMpX7tm+avyn his "mentally weak" state.

Kyaw Zin Win's aunt had not yet seen the report, but said the commission was "wrong" if it denied her nephew had been forcibvEJ*A^ib^KIdum+DaH0^OwkEPjxyAnDTAVd)3lOrN%9PIJh4P7ly outed.

"na(RsvTamVTvsxOrKRV0Kl!2PR=C_@PfcS^xuzb+c%j*+6BFMmI repeatedly told them he was bullied," Mya Lay Ngwe said, according to AFP.

Deputy Asia Director for Human Rights Watch, Phil Robertson, meanwhile called for MyanCENZ7^=BOVSBcV!Gkp6(w#58koAH0l1L9Is91XCNmZqGw-wX$vmar’s Human Rights Commission to be replaced.

(Photo: Facebook)

"Terrified of the people"

In his Facebook post now share#q#93#vFqe-^Qq)p9^epQhp@i$cJtouHGIB@U+TTq4U%idND5vd thousands of times, Kyaw Zin Win detailed 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 homopa@$tQtb2H6zZ2%&JQ5Gkd3CpFpMN64%#cPRPLrC&fY8XP0_H+-hobic comment from a student passed on to him by a colleague.

Finally, he included screenshots of group chats with his colleagues in which they mockezorrPX!XJgN(iCIYPxSV!QKW8U-_#0QZvntxG^8bJ_5ZVMltV@d him.

"We should send him to the army like you said’"2w0#544_Vd2EUE=TTcn_MZajjhqgug*yTm$LIWt1Xi)D^T0@@y one colleague wrote.

Kyaw V89ldlw75TRbxmF*T_bR7=1T^YGUg7_qQM+s*kx#698=B@j#D9Zin Win wrote "I bear it patiently, wishing it would end soon" below one of the screenshots of abuse.

(Cover photo: Facebook)