Ongoing military operation in Northern Rakhine State of Myanmar
The Myanmar Military launched a massive offensive military operation against Rohingya civilians after an unknown assailant group attacked three location including Border Guard Police Command centre in Kyi Kan Pyin in the early morning of October 9.
Although the government officials announced in a press conference in Nay Pyaw Taw on the same day that the attack was carried out by unknown people, the military, Rakhine extremists and fanatic monks quickly pointed finger towards the Rohingya community. Soon the military begins crushing Rohingya villagers in the norther part of Maungdaw Township, which is situated near the Bangladesh-Myanmar border.
The government announced the state of emergency and extended curfew from 7 pm to 6 am, and the military re-enforces army and police forces in the region by complete closure of the border and transportation in the township. The military claimed that 9 of their men were killed during the attacks and the assailants took away a number of guns and ammunitions.
On October 9, Sunday, the military attacked three villages - Kyi Kan Pyin (Hawar Bil), Thanwan Chaung (Bossara) and Rwa Nyu (Rwáingga Daung), killing 7 innocent Rohingya civilians and as well as another 7 Rohingya at closed range in Myo Thu Gyi (Haindá fara) village located just outside Maungdaw town centre.
The military so far burned down 7 Rohingya villages, they are Waa Bak (6 killed), Hawar Bil (more than 5 killed), Naisa Fru (5 killed), Nári Bil (Kyáuk Prang Séip), Kyari Farung (more than 5 killed), Haand Gujja Fara (6 killed) and Foohali. The total number of houses burned are approximately 300 and making 15,000 Rohingya homeless. The estimated reports from the ground say nearly 200 Rohingya so far killed, and 3 mass graves were discovered.
It is also estimated that nearly a thousand Rohingya civilians have been arbitrarily arrested including women, and it is widely reported that the majority women arrested and during raids in their houses were gang raped by the army and the police officers.
The commander-in-chief of Myanmar armed forces, General Min Aung Hlaing has decreed to use air forces to attack and eradicate the last remaining of assailants whom they consider taking refuge in Rohingya villages. The military and the state government have accused RSO (Rohingya Solidarity Organization) which the International Crisis Group, a Brussels-based think tank has declared RSO as “essentially defunct as an armed organization”.
The military and the extremist elements are using the false-flag to wipe out Rohingya from Maungdaw which comprise more than 90% Rohingya Muslims. Since 1930 before independence of Burma, the Rakhine separatist moment has created an agenda to make Arakan (now Rakhine) State – Rohingya Free. Before 1930, Rohingya were spread throughout the state. After the Rakhine has implemented their agenda, they have started to remove Rohingya starting from the southern part of Arakan State by military operations and other ethnic cleansing programme, making Rohingya free zones. In 2012, Sittwe which is the capital of Arakan State was devastated by the acts of Genocide completely removing of Rohingya population from the town and forced them into concentration camps. The similar campaign took place at the same time in other 6 townships in Arakan State.
Maungdaw and Buthidaung are only two remaining townships where the majority are Rohingya Muslim. For a long time, the towns are under the eyes of Rakhine extremists and notorious Myanmar military, which want to start cleaning Rohingya from the villages and force them into concentration camps like other townships.
Taking the opportunity, they are accomplishing many goals. Besides uprooting Rohingya from the villages, they also preventing former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s visit to Maungdaw on 21st October as well as reducing the influence of Aung San Suu Kyi power by announcing the state of emergency and military re-enforcement in the region. The military also want to increase its forces in the northern part of Maungdaw to compete with Bangladesh forces along the border.
Now Rohingya live in the fear of death as they cannot travel, their villages are slowing burning down, there is no food and medical supply, and the border is closed in escape from the extra-judicial killing.
