The Daily Star
Staff Correspondent
Wed Mar 19, 2025
Staff Correspondent
Wed Mar 19, 2025
Says Fortify Rights; blames Rohingya armed-groups for repeated violence there
Despite the rising violence in the Rohingya camps of Cox's Bazar over the years, the Bangladesh authorities have repeatedly downplayed or denied the presence of Rohingya militant groups, allowing them to operate unchecked.
Refugees and rights groups have long raised concerns over killings, abductions, and torture carried out by armed factions, but official inaction has left vulnerable communities unprotected, said a report by Fortify Rights launched at Dhaka Reporters Unity yesterday.
Refugees and rights groups have long raised concerns over killings, abductions, and torture carried out by armed factions, but official inaction has left vulnerable communities unprotected, said a report by Fortify Rights launched at Dhaka Reporters Unity yesterday.
The report, titled "I May Be Killed at Any Moment" -- Killing, Abduction, Torture and Other Serious Violations by Rohingya Militant Groups in Bangladesh -- accuses the authorities of failing to admit the existence of these groups, contributing to a worsening security crisis in the camps.
According to the report, Rohingya refugees have suffered years of violence at the hands of militant groups. The number of killings by camp-based militants was 22 in 2021, 42 in 2022, 90 in 2023, and at least 65 in 2024.
According to the findings of the rights body, the camps were under the control of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) till January 2023. But after that, the Rohingya Solidarity Organisation (RSO) emerged and started taking control of the camps.
Soon after the conflicts began between the two armed groups of the refugees, abduction, extortion, and gunshot incidents in the camps jumped a couple of times higher compared with 2022.
The report mentioned that there were 91 abductions in the camps by the Rohingya militants and criminal groups in 2022, but it rose to 384 in 2023, and 446 in 2024. Similarly, there were only 26 extortion incidents in 2022, which jumped to 149 in 2023, and 136 in 2024.
There were only 15 incidents of gunshots in 2022, which jumped to 149 in 2023 and 257 in 2024.
HASINA'S REGIME BLAMED
In the report, the rights body claimed that under the government of the now-deposed Sheikh Hasina, impunity prevailed in the camps, partly due to the government's prolonged denial of Rohingya militants' presence.
It added that this refusal to admit their existence contributed to deteriorating security conditions, with militant groups allegedly carrying out killings, abductions, and acts of torture against Rohingyas.
The report highlighted that the authorities have also been responsible for human rights violations against the refugees, further exacerbating security concerns.
For years, the Bangladesh government refused to acknowledge the activities of Rohingya militant groups publicly. As a result, the authorities failed to take meaningful action, even as these groups carried out attacks on the Rohingyas.
"Rohingya armed groups are wreaking havoc in Bangladesh and Myanmar with near complete impunity," said John Quinley, director of Fortify Rights.
"War crimes are usually committed within the immediate theater of armed conflict, but in this case, crimes in Bangladesh are directly connected to the war in Myanmar. Bangladesh's interim government should cooperate with international justice mechanisms to bring perpetrators to justice."
The recent US government funding cuts are creating more space for Rohingya militants in the camps, worsening security conditions for refugees, Fortify Rights warned.
HUMANITARIAN CORRIDOR
Speaking as a panellist at the report launch, Patrick Phongsthorn, senior advocacy specialist at the rights body, stressed the need for a humanitarian corridor to break the "siege-like" conditions Rohingya refugees face.
He called for a structured mechanism to ensure the free movement of aid and essential goods while preventing their exploitation by militants.
He warned that "safe zones," often proposed as alternatives, have historically failed, making a humanitarian corridor a more viable solution for sustaining refugee safety and access to resources.
Patrick calls on Bangladeshi authorities and international justice bodies to investigate potential human rights violations in refugee camps, particularly those involving non-state actors.
He stressed the importance of investigating these crimes, particularly those involving killings, torture, and abductions, and holding perpetrators accountable.
Responding to a query from a journalist, rights body director John Quinley said a ceasefire was brokered in November 2023, leading to a decrease in killings, but there is growing concern about a rise in abductions and coercion into militant activities.
Link : Here
According to the report, Rohingya refugees have suffered years of violence at the hands of militant groups. The number of killings by camp-based militants was 22 in 2021, 42 in 2022, 90 in 2023, and at least 65 in 2024.
According to the findings of the rights body, the camps were under the control of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) till January 2023. But after that, the Rohingya Solidarity Organisation (RSO) emerged and started taking control of the camps.
Soon after the conflicts began between the two armed groups of the refugees, abduction, extortion, and gunshot incidents in the camps jumped a couple of times higher compared with 2022.
The report mentioned that there were 91 abductions in the camps by the Rohingya militants and criminal groups in 2022, but it rose to 384 in 2023, and 446 in 2024. Similarly, there were only 26 extortion incidents in 2022, which jumped to 149 in 2023, and 136 in 2024.
There were only 15 incidents of gunshots in 2022, which jumped to 149 in 2023 and 257 in 2024.
HASINA'S REGIME BLAMED
In the report, the rights body claimed that under the government of the now-deposed Sheikh Hasina, impunity prevailed in the camps, partly due to the government's prolonged denial of Rohingya militants' presence.
It added that this refusal to admit their existence contributed to deteriorating security conditions, with militant groups allegedly carrying out killings, abductions, and acts of torture against Rohingyas.
The report highlighted that the authorities have also been responsible for human rights violations against the refugees, further exacerbating security concerns.
For years, the Bangladesh government refused to acknowledge the activities of Rohingya militant groups publicly. As a result, the authorities failed to take meaningful action, even as these groups carried out attacks on the Rohingyas.
"Rohingya armed groups are wreaking havoc in Bangladesh and Myanmar with near complete impunity," said John Quinley, director of Fortify Rights.
"War crimes are usually committed within the immediate theater of armed conflict, but in this case, crimes in Bangladesh are directly connected to the war in Myanmar. Bangladesh's interim government should cooperate with international justice mechanisms to bring perpetrators to justice."
The recent US government funding cuts are creating more space for Rohingya militants in the camps, worsening security conditions for refugees, Fortify Rights warned.
HUMANITARIAN CORRIDOR
Speaking as a panellist at the report launch, Patrick Phongsthorn, senior advocacy specialist at the rights body, stressed the need for a humanitarian corridor to break the "siege-like" conditions Rohingya refugees face.
He called for a structured mechanism to ensure the free movement of aid and essential goods while preventing their exploitation by militants.
He warned that "safe zones," often proposed as alternatives, have historically failed, making a humanitarian corridor a more viable solution for sustaining refugee safety and access to resources.
Patrick calls on Bangladeshi authorities and international justice bodies to investigate potential human rights violations in refugee camps, particularly those involving non-state actors.
He stressed the importance of investigating these crimes, particularly those involving killings, torture, and abductions, and holding perpetrators accountable.
Responding to a query from a journalist, rights body director John Quinley said a ceasefire was brokered in November 2023, leading to a decrease in killings, but there is growing concern about a rise in abductions and coercion into militant activities.
Link : Here
No comments:
Post a Comment