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 ic=KI-#U35YCuQdA*6%w2Vzy-LwKEvJChRLx(%!-Mz^i8^Jkncrevealed bullying in his workplace.

The probe labeled KyF*9X*TGng9qbqVbKZCqQl3zsQ1hSr0UEL0VB1JxDwXOFx!fc6haw Zin Win, a 26-year-old librarian at Myanmar Imperial University, as "mentally weak”.

In June, Kyaw Zin Win shared details of homo0Y%7xexm1^M$kb0ox29T!YmtaQ3hKcG!n(9u=DneP1t&Xnab5mphobic 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 identityM6eX-CjIRbZU$t$OfL&wwy0*3gJ9JqkpR6k8vjDq)7#K1#fA4x of an individual being’.

Gay sex is illegal in the Southeast Asian country under the colonial-era penal code. LGBTI citizens faB0sfdo94$NrW!&lvc&fh!06X3v*vI#$nTM$GG5%AUdBe%*NwSAce widespread stigma and discrimination in all aspects of life.

Kyaw Zin Win’s death prompted manymr209hf1g*O$8aejZM6ej*47_$UFyWNZ&8*y-#Qp@amy+IQbg& in Myanmar to speak out for LGBT rights.

Many people changed their profile pictures to a black circle edged in rainbow colours. They also shX8LA0t*HwW-gnC6xLy$Tf8WJwsvHV&+HGT=q#rBjSnxAWxE==Rared his final post and offered messaged of love"

"Mentally Weak"

But, on Wednesday, commissioner Yu Lwin Aung YZVb3ASPc(v1ptmi8AcNBzOm4ANFCxqx3f=btrIcRCQE7e-SV0told AFP "Absolutely no evidence could be found he was bullied.” 

He insG_XB*g*%ugCZ%Ac0O@0&EN&zvG8nI1p0H_69qG%wiBKAhph_)#tead placed responsibility on his "mentally weak" state.

Kyaw Zin Win's aunt had not yet seen the report, but said the coGs2!qn)i74RI0*jytVbB6XJyNr7atOg4NdosnJ%Yz)qb(x+kT2mmission was "wrong" if it denied her nephew had been forcibly outed.

"I repeatedly told them he wa5YoIQ4rRZ3Ds1x^X*+f_Y_=H6QzZ0k_E*!IaJYamX+!K=pAyG&s bullied," Mya Lay Ngwe said, according to AFP.

Deputy Asia Director for Human Rights Watch, PhilmsjLxvLgcc@B$yL!=^I-%$IFYi#L%xpo6vp(OHz8FKmWTW51m4 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 detailed how senior staff members forced him to reveal his sexuality, even though he had dj2f=4W5-&!R^aX+et*LdDyAobZkc9)DaIhCs7j-^#UK*s+wU-not told his immediate family.

He said he was "terrified of the people".

The young librarian6eX8I5=xiTeBVv%aYXE$tlo=FLuss8weUPecW7$JJRnCO2TVBu also shared details of a homophobic comment from a student passed on to him by a colleague.

Finally, he included screenshots of group chats with his colleagues in which theyT)7DYgUr%F2ChKH9Vxm-Hn&_p2FfB!@JE3FYZ)HB%3gHIvSdM2 mocked him.

"We should send him to the =!czPOu3Sly@BlLlnUV=k412o-x%%xi-q*E_w@=LFHXIC@Lp@farmy like you said’" one colleague wrote.

Kyaw Zin Win wrote4YoTnn_w+a(#kxp*4bFKjxpGrYjkpBf%ej3xH2FHyVGrv32Du9 "I bear it patiently, wishing it would end soon" below one of the screenshots of abuse.

(Cover photo: Facebook)