Satellite imagery of
Rohingya villages in Myanmar's western Rakhine State shows 820 newly identified
structures were destroyed in five different locations Nov. 10-18. Human Rights
Watch (HRW) called on the government to "without further delay"
invite the United Nations to assist in an impartial investigation of the
widespread destruction.
The
demand echoes a statement by the UN special rapporteur on Myanmar, who visited
the area as part of a government-led delegation in early November.
“The
security forces must not be given carte blanche to step up their operations
under the smokescreen of having allowed access to an international
delegation," Yanghee Lee said in a Nov. 18 statement.
"Urgent
action is needed to bring resolution to the situation."
The
destruction has occurred since armed groups launched fatal attacks on police
stations in northern Rakhine on Oct. 9.
In
the aftermath, the government has said that at least 86 people -- 17 soldiers
and 69 alleged "attackers" (among them two women) -- were killed,
along with the destruction of Rohingya property.
Rohingya
groups, however, claim that the number of civilians killed in one weekend alone
earlier this month could be as high as 150.
There
has been no independent verification of the alleged attacks or arrests as
access to the area near the Bangladesh border has been under military control
since the initial incident.
The
army-run Myawaddy newspaper has claimed, however, that the mass arson was
self-inflicted by villagers to evoke global sympathy, while Rohingya groups say
the torchings are an army tactic to wipe out their property and then deflect
blame.
The
latest images bring the total number of destroyed buildings documented by HRW
in northern Rakhine to 1,250.
“These
alarming new satellite images confirm that the destruction in Rohingya villages
is far greater and in more places than the government has admitted,” said Brad
Adams, the NGO's Asia director.
“The
apparent arson attacks against five Rohingya villages is a matter of grave
concern for which the Burmese [Myanmar] government needs to investigate and
prosecute those responsible."
He
underlined UN participation as "crucial" for such an investigation to
be credible.
On
Monday, the government said that at least 430 people have also been detained
for alleged involvement in the initial attacks, along with subsequent alleged
attacks on military conducting clearance operations in the area.
State-run
newspapers, citing statements from the State Counselor Office Information
Committee, said that 60 people were recently arrested for involvement in a Oct.
11 incident in which it said five soldiers had died, while 33 people were
detained Saturday for alleged involvement in Nov. 12. attacks on troops.
All
arrests took place in the predominantly Rohingya township of Maungdaw in
northern Rakhine.
Meanwhile,
calls for investigations into rights abuse of Rohingya continue.
Residents
are reported to have suffered serious human rights violations during the
military operation, including torture, rape and sexual assault, summary
executions, and the destruction of mosques and homes.
In
her Nov. 18 statement, Special Rapporteur Lee criticized authorities for
placing the region on lockdown for six weeks, and expressed particular concern
at reports that the security operation had been stepped up since the delegation
left.
“The
government has now admitted using helicopter gunships in support of ground
troops, and there are unverified claims of reprisals against villagers who had
shared their grievances with the delegation,” she said.
State
Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi’s office has now announced a national-level
investigation commission will soon be formed to probe the ongoing attacks in
Maungdaw.
“The
commission will submit a report based on its findings in the investigation and
will also give suggestions for the prevention of such kind of attacks in the
future,” the state-run Global News Light of Myanmar newspaper reported.
The
UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs announced Saturday
that up to 30,000 people have now been displaced by the ongoing violence.
Indonesia
is now monitoring the situation offering to help if needed.
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