Amnesty accuses Myanmar military of fresh 'war crimes' in Rakhine.

[K Shehzad]

Myanmar's military is guilty of committing new "war crimes", extrajudicial killings and torture in its fight against ethnic Rakhine rebels, Amnesty International said on Wednesday.

The armed forces have deployed thousands of troops and heavy artillery across northern Rakhine state in recent months where Arakan Army (AA) rebels are fighting for more autonomy for the state's ethnic Rakhine Buddhists.

The state was also the scene of the military's bloody crackdown against the Rohingya Muslim community in 2017. That campaign pushed some 740,000 Rohingya into Bangladesh in violence, UN investigators say, warrants prosecution of top generals for "genocide".

The Amnesty said on Wednesday it had "new evidence" that Myanmar's military is now "committing war crimes and other human rights violations" against the ethnic Rakhine, listing extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, torture and enforced disappearances.

Access to the conflict area is heavily restricted but details of civilian deaths have emerged over recent weeks and months. But the army has confirmed it shot dead six detainees late last month in the village of Kyauk Tan.

The Amnesty's report is based on scores of interviews with people from various ethnic groups, photographs, videos and satellite imagery.

It documents seven unlawful attacks that killed 14 civilians and injured dozens more, saying notorious infantry units have been deployed against the ethnic Rakhine. Some Rohingya Muslims who have remained in the area have also been killed.

"The new operations in Rakhine State show an unrepentant, unreformed and unaccountable military terrorising civilians," said regional director Nicholas Bequelin.

Army spokesman Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun denied all allegations, saying the military's operations were within the law and they "avoided harming civilians".

"This was an operation to clear terrorists. We were careful not to commit any war crimes," he told AFP.

The Amnesty also criticised the government for choosing to "remain silent" while supplies of medicine, food and humanitarian relief remain blocked by authorities.

In an unprecedented move after the suspected militants attacked police posts in January, Aung San Suu Kyi's government ordered the army to "crush" the rebels.

The government spokesman could not be reached for comment.

Although the military was the main perpetrator, suspected insurgents have also "committed abuses against civilians", Amnesty said, alleging they have sent letters with bullets to local administrators and business people.

"I can firmly say it does not happen," AA Spokesman Khine Thu Kha told AFP by phone, denying the claims.

 

[Mamadouso]

So now they are torturing the ethnic Rakhine too, they need to be sanctioned immediately.

 

[Aung Zaya]

It documents seven unlawful attacks that killed 14 civilians and injured dozens more

What a fake report..!! all the killings are something like this.
Military to Investigate Deaths of 6 in Detention
One of the injured detainees is sent to Sittwe General Hospital last week. / Min Aung Khine / The Irrawaddy

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By Htet Naing Zaw 7 May 2019

NAYPYITAW—Deputy Minister for Defense Lieutenant-General Sein Win has promised there would be an investigation into the incident in which six locals in Rakhine State’s Rathedaung Township were shot dead by soldiers of the Myanmar military, or Tatmadaw, during detention.

The deputy minister told reporters after an advisory forum on national reconciliation and peace held in Naypyitaw on Tuesday that an investigation is ongoing.

“We will investigate if the interrogation was conducted in line with procedures. We will take harsh actions if there was a violation of the rules of engagement. For the time being, I can’t tell what actions will be taken. We’ll wait and see the [results] of the investigation procedure. Actions will be taken in line with the law,” said the deputy minister.

Military spokesperson Brigadier-General Zaw Min Tun said that an investigative body was formed on Friday with five individuals led by a senior military officer, and that community elders, departmental officials and security forces would be questioned.

“We have not set the deadline for the investigation, but according to procedures, the report has to be submitted within two weeks of the [completion of the] investigation,” said Brig-Gen Zaw Min Tun.

On April 30, military troops arrived at Kyauktan Village in Rathedaung and summoned all male residents above the age of 15. They then interrogated 275 people at the local school on suspicion of having ties to the Arakan Army (AA).

Six locals were shot dead while in military detention at around 2:00 a.m. on Thursday in an incident which, according to the military, happened after the detainees attempted to snatch guns from the soldiers.

Eight others were wounded and four are missing, a military press release said.

Meanwhile, however, the detainees who were injured in the incident and admitted to Sittwe General Hospital have given a different account. According to them, one man who was frightened during the ongoing detention jumped over the fence and escaped.

Soldiers fired at the escapee and more than 200 others stood up to see what was happening. Unexpectedly, soldiers surrounded them from both sides and fired into the crowd, they said.

Of the 275 detainees, 126 were released on May 2 and 48 on May 6. With six shot dead, eight receiving treatment in hospital in Sittwe, and four missing, 83 are being held by the military at present, said Brig-Gen Zaw Min Tun.

Rathedaung Township Lower House lawmaker Daw Khin Saw Wai encouraged the government to make the investigation into the case, expressing her doubts about the military’s explanation of the events.

Locals said that Buddhist funeral rites were also denied for the victims.

“They should be allowed to be cremated according to Buddhist funeral rites. [Their family members] are quite sad that the funeral rites were not conducted,” Daw Khin Saw Wai told The Irrawaddy.

An influential Buddhist monk from Sittwe was allowed to see the detainees on Monday, and Daw Khin Saw Wai and a party are travelling to Kyauktan Village on Tuesday with the approval of the government.

Civilians have been detained by both the military and Arakan Army troops in the clashes.

Brig-Gen Zaw Min Tun told reporters on May 3 that the AA has detained 134 civilians.

On Tuesday, Human Rights Watch called for the Myanmar authorities to independently investigate the killing of the detainees, despite the military having formed their own team to investigate the incident. The rights group said the army has a long history of failing to effectively or credibly investigate alleged abuses by its own forces and rarely holds military personnel accountable.

“The Myanmar military concedes that they killed six villagers that they were holding in Rakhine State, but only a genuinely independent investigation will get to the bottom of what happened,” said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “An independent and impartial investigation is needed to bring to justice anyone responsible for wrongdoing.”
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two stories in this incident but one told they're trying to snatch guns from the soldiers. even US will do the same like us in war time. another one told they was frightened ( screaming ) and trying to escape over the fence. In this regards, Army is investigating more than 230 suspects with fewer strength. if they escape and get the guns buried nearby and shoot back , who will take responsible for this.? Military is doing operations in remote area in war time. They should have accepted and fully cooperated with military if they are really not rebels without doing any violence during investigation. But In AI's report , these facts are totally downplayed and promoted only what they want. No wonder most people in Myanmar dont believe such a so-called report.