Rohingya refugee children learn the Koran in a madrasa, or Islamic school, in a Rohingya refugee camp in Ukhia Credit: AFP
Burmese security forces are committing fresh human rights violations that may amount to new allegations of war crimes, a United Nations investigator said on Tuesday.
These claims surfaced with the deployment of thousands of Burmese troops fighting ethnic rebels in Rakhine and Chin, the conflict-ridden Western states of the country.
After a 2017 military crackdown, 730,000 Rohingya Muslims fled from Western Burma, and sought refuge in neighbouring Bangladesh.
The new military escalations have caused 35,000 people to flee their homes and left 100,000 civilians without access to basic services.
UN investigators described these Burmese army operations as having a “genocidal intent” and condemned the use of mass killings, gang rapes, and widespread arson.
Burmese government authorities denied such claims, arguing the military aggression was in response to attacks by Rohingya militants.
Among the 21 armed groups still operating in the country, the Arakan Army fighting for greater autonomy for ethnic Rakhine Buddhists may also face accusations of war crimes.
Yanghee Lee, the UN independent expert on human rights in Burma, also known as Myanmar, said the Arakan Army had reportedly abducted civilians, including 12 construction workers in Paletwa and 52 villagers near the Bangladesh border.
Ms Lee also cited reports of mostly ethnic Rakhine men, being detained and interrogated by Burmese authorities for suspected links to the Arakan Army and said several had died in custody.
Zaw Win Hlaing, 28, died Monday from injuries allegedly sustained while in army custody, his family said.
Among the 21 armed groups still operating in the country, the Arakan Army fighting for greater autonomy for ethnic Rakhine Buddhists may also face accusations of war crimes.
Yanghee Lee, the UN independent expert on human rights in Burma, also known as Myanmar, said the Arakan Army had reportedly abducted civilians, including 12 construction workers in Paletwa and 52 villagers near the Bangladesh border.
Ms Lee also cited reports of mostly ethnic Rakhine men, being detained and interrogated by Burmese authorities for suspected links to the Arakan Army and said several had died in custody.
Zaw Win Hlaing, 28, died Monday from injuries allegedly sustained while in army custody, his family said.
"My son told me they beat and tortured him by hitting his back with a longyi (a traditional sarong-like garment) packed with stones," his mother told AFP. An army spokesman said that any official complaint would be investigated, and insisted torture is "banned" during military interrogations.
On June 22, authorities shut down internet services to the Western Burmese states, whereby the ministry of transport and communications had cited “disturbances of peace and use of internet activities to coordinate illegal activities”.
Ms Lee denied the blackout was endangering villagers, obstructing aid and shielding the military. Burma's ambassador, Kyaw Moe Tun, said the government had declared a ceasefire through August and was trying to bring about national reconciliation.
On June 22, authorities shut down internet services to the Western Burmese states, whereby the ministry of transport and communications had cited “disturbances of peace and use of internet activities to coordinate illegal activities”.
Ms Lee denied the blackout was endangering villagers, obstructing aid and shielding the military. Burma's ambassador, Kyaw Moe Tun, said the government had declared a ceasefire through August and was trying to bring about national reconciliation.
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