Combat Photography in the Face of Atrocity: Training in Documentation and Evidence Gathering

In the midst of the Rohingya crisis, a team of instructors is training soldiers from the Karenni Nationalities Defence Force (KNDF) in the art of combat photography and documentation, aimed at gathering intelligence and documenting war crimes committed by the Myanmar military junta. The trainers emphasize the importance of precision and thoroughness in documenting evidence, from photographing weapons and computers to creating sketches of crime scenes and noting the presence of witnesses. This meticulous process is meant to serve as evidence in international war crimes tribunals and to erode international support for the junta.

Key Takeaways:

• The training program, led by experienced instructors, focuses on teaching soldiers the art of combat photography and documentation to gather evidence of war crimes.
• The instructors emphasize the importance of precision and thoroughness in documenting evidence, including photographing weapons, computers, and crime scenes.
• The goal of the training is to gather evidence that can be used in international war crimes tribunals and to erode international support for the Myanmar military junta.
• The trainers use the analogy that 'soldiers fear bullets, leaders fear the truth,' and that documenting evidence can be a powerful tool in winning hearts and minds and holding people accountable.
• The students, mostly young soldiers, have already seen a significant amount of death and trauma, and the instructors acknowledge the emotional toll of their work.
• The instructors discuss the difficulties of photographing dead bodies, especially when the faces are missing or have been disfigured, and the emotional challenges that come with it.

Statistics:

• The training program is focused on gathering evidence of war crimes, including atrocities against civilians and the use of unexploded ordnance.
• The instructors emphasize the importance of documenting evidence, including photographing weapons, computers, and crime scenes, to create a thorough and precise record.
• The students include 25 young soldiers from the Karenni Nationalities Defence Force who have already seen significant trauma and death.
• The trainers have noted that despite the horrors they have seen, the soldiers seem like happy young people who continue to laugh, joke, and sing despite the challenges they face.

Sources:

• Antonio Graceffo, an economist and China expert with years of reporting on Burma, is mentioned in the article as a source of information on the conflict in Burma.
• The article does not provide specific external references, but the information provided is a quote from Antonio Graceffo.