Azra Hoosen | ah@radioislam.co.za
15 August 2024 | 13:00 CAT
2 min read

The situation in Myanmar’s Rakhine State has deteriorated significantly, with recent reports of grave human rights abuses committed by both the Myanmar military junta and the Arakan Army. Human Rights Watch has documented a series of brutal actions, including extrajudicial killings, mass arson, and unlawful recruitment targeting the Rohingya and Rakhine civilians.

Shayna Bauchner, an Asia researcher at Human Rights Watch, emphasized that there has been a significant deterioration in Rakhine state in recent months, increasing the risk to civilians throughout the region.

Speaking to Radio Islam, Bauchner explained that in November 2023, fighting between the military and the Arakan Army resumed in Rakhine state, ending an unofficial ceasefire that had lasted about a year. Since March/April 2024, there has been a sharp increase in attacks deliberately targeting civilians, especially in the predominantly Muslim northern areas. HRW documented atrocities committed by both Myanmar Junta forces and the Arakan Army, including extrajudicial killings and widespread arson, leading to mass displacement. Since the violence reignited, over 3,000 people have been displaced across Rakhine state.

“Rohingya are caught in the middle of the two parties and in different situations they are victims of atrocities by both the junta and army forces,” she said.

Since February 2024, the military has been abducting and forcibly recruiting thousands of Rohingya men and boys from across Rakhine to join Junta operations, leading to increased retaliation by the Arakan Army.

“The military is using exploitive tactics to try and stoke communal tensions between the Rohingya Muslim and Rakhine Buddhist communities which has led to hate speech and misinformation and in these retaliatory attacks we’ve seen from the Arakan army,” she said.

Bauch pointed out that since the February 2021 coup, the situation nationwide has worsened dramatically. The military has committed widespread abuses across the country, including actions amounting to war crimes and crimes against humanity. These have fueled a growing human rights and humanitarian crisis. The military’s tactics include airstrikes and blocking aid, using collective punishment against civilians who oppose the Junta’s rule.

She stressed that there has been insufficient international action to hold the military accountable for its crimes and to restore civilian rule in Myanmar.

“The atrocities we are seeing carried out nationwide are the result of decades of military impunity and a real reflection of the international community’s failure to respond adequately at different steps of the way,” she said.

Bauch pointed out that the military continues to commit crimes and abuses, blatantly disregarding Security Council resolutions, Human Rights Council resolutions, the UN General Assembly, and even the ASEAN 5-point consensus that it agreed to. This is happening because the military is not facing sufficient consequences for its actions.

In Bangladesh, Rohingya refugees are enduring harsh conditions in the camps. Violence is escalating, fueled by armed Rohingya groups and criminal gangs. Meanwhile, aid resources are dwindling, and authorities are imposing stricter restrictions, pressuring refugees to return to Myanmar.

“The situation on both sides of the border are quite worrying. It is an important moment for government’s who are concerned about the human rights and protection this massive refugee population, to underscore the need for the interim government to uphold its’ responsibly to protect refugees and asylum seekers,” Bauch said.

LISTEN to the full interview with Ml Junaid Kharsany and Shayna Bauchner, Asia researcher at Human Rights Watch, here.