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 meZQq7+M=ZQ9C*z!tF-6GRUJtoZ_z@MD0xaB3MlkKtGNZz%Ls^ran who revealed bullying in his workplace.

The probe labeled Kyaw Zin Win, a 26-year-old librarian at Myanmar Imperial Univej0XYdvrnEg$6oD8V*geY(gxq+2o@YAB@kHCbZmn&Qa&)Rzin(9rsity, as "mentally weak”.

In June, Kyaw Zin Win shared details of homophobic bullying from colleagues in a Facebook post before taking his own life_5Bgr(rDmp8Ec5&*NFccoL=xX43&Bn5v)eICci-Jxl53aG29lo.

Kyaw Zin Win wrote that Myanmar was ‘a country which mocks the existenygQNXyT%v_7mMixUs2_4_l4&Ay!ldWQvd4y^NfyV-c7X03phw!ce and identity of an individual being’.

Gay sex is illegal in the SoutheastDgU0)ssMU_s^qFAx9NH0sSh5kQ@ThqQ21l1%LjcojxDcQT%tF5 Asian country under the colonial-era penal code. LGBTI citizens face widespread stigma and discrimination in all aspects of life.

Kyaw Zin Win’^pqL7Px41CnfjwzzemG*tTlZRuHNa^eve_oAK3YL1w*!HLH8_Gs death prompted many in Myanmar to speak out for LGBT rights.

Many people changed their profile pictures to a black circle edged in rainbo1Y9taYSO@#sRTEzTjli!d%3QRT=o!glAiwFRosG+H^)-!hRSDRw colours. They also shared his final post and offered messaged of love"

"Mentally Weak"

But, on Wednesday, commissioner Yu Lwin Aung told +cHybwSAs-NLHo+3Cft&i5IV#wsY)xrHSk0&NmtkZWIybStZgHAFP "Absolutely no evidence could be found he was bullied.” 

He instead placed responsibility L*c9)pHpD=CAc!hd#W-ElgwE%uVp4KBE+B6vJ0aAcfX_Jk$wTGon his "mentally weak" state.

KyXy9#vu9CLKdxn1fShQp7%=1OJIT*5diG$j^&oA@fD@-r7IHhZPaw Zin Win's aunt had not yet seen the report, but said the commission was "wrong" if it denied her nephew had been forcibly outed.

"I repeatedly told them he was bullied," Mya Lay Ngwe said, accordinLiH8ocqv$fMSMm8_*UO(U1ZbrF$MLhnqR2KI8n+wv7dhxH*HT=g to AFP.

Deputy Asia Director for Human Rights Watch, dbIvVXYQwzhmBDEK0-50X8S&j%ddE_qWEAtWW2#qR4Nq5ZoLWVPhil Robertson, meanwhile called for Myanmar’s Human Rights Commission to be replaced.

(Photo: Facebook)

"Terrified of the people"

In his Facebook Hc0sYRj5tgwiFFYd9#HPGquoN6+G+WtlY1KVdC-TAfG3Kre9L6post now shared 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 homophobic comment from a sOw$dDWyv$nXJuICHdapV34pfZr!spKy%Ac5KInK4uQg(psZL)!tudent passed on to him by a colleague.

Finally, he included scre_uMtm8#iPh6u@9wtH57KP!+f4KM(nrYxN+s_RYcnn2+)TLj!Slenshots of group chats with his colleagues in which they mocked him.

"We should send him to the army like you said’" on7srWn7kb-XT88X*nC#ucX%AMSeX6^!-cWD-PlMjar1Y1aT%2VDe colleague wrote.

Kyaw Zin Win wrote "I bear it patiently, wishing it would end soon" below one of the bfuI54Ul(+jL-2#kPHL7mJvvbc=OJP6ZgriXiE%$NoSR%Ts=Enscreenshots of abuse.

(Cover photo: Facebook)