On 1 February, an Associated Press (AP) investigation revealed evidence of five mass graves near the village of Gu Dar Pyin in Myanmar’s Rakhine State. Witness testimonies by Rohingya survivors indicate that the Myanmar’s military and Rakhine militias launched a mass attack against Rohingya villagers on 27 August 2017. Cell phone footage collected by AP shows corpses in the mass graves surrounded by acid.
“This news should shock the conscience" said BHRN’s Executive Director Kyaw Win. “These mass graves are part of a mounting body of evidence that the Myanmar military systematically attacked innocent Rohingya men, women and children. Soldiers were spotted buying acid two days ahead of the attack. The military clearly planned these massacres and took premediated steps to destroy the evidence.
“The international community must hold Myanmar’s authorities accountable. Failure to do so would be a grave injustice for the victims, their families, and the entire Rohingya community. Moreover, the international community should impose proportionate consequences to prevent future atrocities.
Other ethnic and religious minorities in Myanmar, including remaining Muslim populations, fear they will be the next target of the military’s gruesome violence. To start, the US and EU should immediately establish targeted sanctions on Myanmar’s military leaders and military-affiliated businesses.
“In tandem, the international community should spare no effort to uncover the truth about the massacres. Governments should step up pressure on Myanmar to allow the UN full access to the country. In particular, Special Rapporteur Lee and the International Independent Fact-Finding Mission should swiftly be granted entry to Rakhine State.
“The silence from the UN Security Council is deeply concerning. The evidence suggests that crimes against humanity and possibly genocide occurred. In light of these mass graves, I urge the Council to hold another public meeting on Myanmar and refer the situation to the International Criminal Court”.
Note for Editors:
Gu Dar Pyin is a village located in Buthidaung Township in Myanmar's western Rakhine State. The Burmese Military and Police, along with vigilante groups, staged attacks on several Rohingya villages after August 25th of 2017 which witnesses say involved rape, arson, murder and torture. The Military claims the operations were targeting insurgents who attacked police posts on August 25th, but evidence by rights groups and journalists consistently show military operations occurring in locations where there were no militants present. The scope of crimes witnesses describe coupled with evidence collected by numerous credible organizations suggest that ethnic cleansing or even genocide occurred against the Rohingya. Because access is forbidden or restricted to the UN and Journalists the exact number of dead is unknown, but it is known that over 650,000 Rohingya, over half their estimated population in Burma, were forced to flee the country.
Background on the Burma Human Rights Network (BHRN)
Burma Human Rights Network (BHRN) is based in London, operate across Burma and works for human rights, minority rights and religious freedom in Burma. BHRN has played a crucial role advocating for human rights and religious freedom with politicians and world leaders.
Media Enquiries
Please contact:
Kyaw Win
Executive Director
Burma Human Rights Network (BHRN)
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T: +44(0) 740 345 2378
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