28 May 2024: Recent reports from northern Rakhine state reveal new atrocities committed by Myanmar’s military against the Rohingya population. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has received alarming accounts of violence, including killings and property destruction.
Liz Throssell, spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, detailed these concerns in a briefing on Friday, May 24, in Geneva. “Serious allegations of Rohingya civilian killings and the burning of their property have been received,” she said, noting that tens of thousands have been displaced by recent fighting in Buthidaung and Maungdaw townships. Satellite images and eyewitness testimonies indicate significant destruction in Buthidaung, which began on May 17, shortly after the military retreated and the Arakan Army took control.
James Rodehaver, head of the Myanmar Team at the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, corroborated these findings, reporting numerous credible accounts of violence. Survivors described harrowing scenes of death and extortion as they fled their homes. The Arakan Army and the military have both been implicated in these attacks.
This surge in violence occurs amid a broader civil war following the military coup against Aung San Suu Kyi’s government. The Arakan Army, an ethnic armed group, has resumed hostilities with the military after a cease-fire, aiming for greater autonomy in Rakhine state. This region is home to around 600,000 Rohingya, who face severe discrimination and are largely denied citizenship.
The UN human rights office has documented increased attacks on Rohingya civilians, including aerial strikes and drone assaults. Reports include shootings of fleeing villagers, disappearances, home burnings, and beheadings. The Rohingya have long been subjected to restrictive measures by the military, limiting their movement and exacerbating their plight.
The Myanmar junta, weakened by ongoing conflicts, has resorted to conscripting young Rohingya men, promising benefits in exchange for their service. UN officials have condemned these actions as manipulative and exploitative.
Tom Andrews, UN special rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar, warned of the potential for another mass atrocity if the international community fails to intervene. UN human rights chief Volker Türk called for an immediate cessation of violence and emphasized the need for humanitarian relief.
More than a million Rohingya have sought refuge in Bangladesh, fleeing previous crackdowns that led to a genocide court case against Myanmar. Despite these severe conditions, international and Muslim states have been criticized for their limited response to the ongoing crisis.
As the violence continues, the Rohingya community remains in a state of dire need, urging global action to prevent further atrocities and ensure their safety and rights.
