DHAKA: A report by human rights researchers at Harvard Law School has found that military activities carried out by Myanmar’s powerful Minister of Home Affairs when the country was still under dictatorship could constitute war crimes.

The report released on Friday and said there is evidence that Ko Ko and two high-ranking colleagues were responsible for the executions, torture and enslavement of civilians by government troops during an offensive against ethnic rebels, reports the NDTV.

The researchers said they spent three years collecting information about the governmen’'s 2005-2006 counter insurgency efforts in Karen state along the country’s eastern border.

The Harvard findings come just before US President Barack Obama and other world leaders attend an ASEAN summit meeting in Myanmar next week.

The government responded by saying much of what happens during times of conflict is unavoidable.

BDST: 1737 HRS, NOV 07, 2014