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 has spread a civil…