UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The military-backed government in Myanmar is intentionally attacking civilians to terrorize them and force them into submission, and its increasing weapons purchases from China, Russia and elsewhere are fueling the conflict and the “catastrophic” human rights situation in the war-torn Southeast Asian nation, a U.N. rights investigator said.

Kelley Currie told reporters it is worrying that countries in the region and beyond are engaging with the government without asking for anything in return, such as a reduction in the level of violence, freedom for thousands of political prisoners and dialogue toward peace with all parties.

Myanmar’s fellow members in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which had rebuked the military there for its 2021 seizure of power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, have lately seemed receptive to warmer relations.

The army’s takeover triggered widespread pro-democracy protests that were brutally quashed, leading to armed resistance that…