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U.N. Condemns Violence in Western Myanmar U.N. Condemns Violence in Western Myanmar
(about 13 hours later)
GENEVA — The United Nations expressed alarm on Friday about civilian deaths and other developing consequences from an escalating conflict between Myanmar’s military, which undertook a brutally violent military campaign against the Rohingya ethnic group, and an insurgent group in a western border region.GENEVA — The United Nations expressed alarm on Friday about civilian deaths and other developing consequences from an escalating conflict between Myanmar’s military, which undertook a brutally violent military campaign against the Rohingya ethnic group, and an insurgent group in a western border region.
Ravina Shamdasani, a spokeswoman for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, said on Friday that the agency believed the violence in Rakhine State had also resulted in destroyed property, arbitrary arrests and abductions in civilian areas. She said that the fighting had displaced more than 20,000 people. Ravina Shamdasani, a spokeswoman for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, said on Friday that the agency believed the violence in Rakhine State had also resulted in destroyed property, arbitrary arrests and abductions in civilian areas. She said that the fighting had displaced over 20,000 people.
Ms. Shamdasani said that at least seven civilians were killed on Wednesday, when two military helicopters bombed and strafed villagers who were tending cattle and working in rice fields. Eighteen more people were injured.Ms. Shamdasani said that at least seven civilians were killed on Wednesday, when two military helicopters bombed and strafed villagers who were tending cattle and working in rice fields. Eighteen more people were injured.
“The Myanmar military is again carrying out attacks against its own civilians,” Ms. Shamdasani said, adding that the attacks “may constitute war crimes.”“The Myanmar military is again carrying out attacks against its own civilians,” Ms. Shamdasani said, adding that the attacks “may constitute war crimes.”
The attacks are in area of western Myanmar that in 2017 was the site of much of the violence that Myanmar’s military perpetrated against the Rohingya, which prompted more than 700,000 members of the ethnic group to flee into neighboring Bangladesh. Myanmar has said that its military was merely responding to attacks by Rohingya militants, but United Nations officials called the actions genocide, and said that top generals should face trial in an international court.The attacks are in area of western Myanmar that in 2017 was the site of much of the violence that Myanmar’s military perpetrated against the Rohingya, which prompted more than 700,000 members of the ethnic group to flee into neighboring Bangladesh. Myanmar has said that its military was merely responding to attacks by Rohingya militants, but United Nations officials called the actions genocide, and said that top generals should face trial in an international court.
United Nations Secretary General António Guterres this week appointed Nicholas Koumjian, an American prosecutor with more than 20 years’ experience in international criminal justice, to lead a special investigative body tasked with preparing case files for prosecuting the most serious crimes arising from the campaign.United Nations Secretary General António Guterres this week appointed Nicholas Koumjian, an American prosecutor with more than 20 years’ experience in international criminal justice, to lead a special investigative body tasked with preparing case files for prosecuting the most serious crimes arising from the campaign.
But the latest violence largely involves a the Arakan Army, a guerrilla force from the Buddhist ethnic group that makes up the majority population in Rakhine State and finds support among those who feel neglected by the central government.But the latest violence largely involves a the Arakan Army, a guerrilla force from the Buddhist ethnic group that makes up the majority population in Rakhine State and finds support among those who feel neglected by the central government.
Arakan Army fighters ambushed border posts in January, and are said to have killed 13 police officers and injured nine more. In response, the Myanmar military deployed thousands of extra troops — reportedly including some of the units involved in the 2017 violence — and launched counterinsurgency operations backed by fighter jets and helicopter gunships.Arakan Army fighters ambushed border posts in January, and are said to have killed 13 police officers and injured nine more. In response, the Myanmar military deployed thousands of extra troops — reportedly including some of the units involved in the 2017 violence — and launched counterinsurgency operations backed by fighter jets and helicopter gunships.
It also restricted access to northern Rakhine State. Ms. Shamdasani said that humanitarian aid efforts were struggling to reach those displaced by the violence.It also restricted access to northern Rakhine State. Ms. Shamdasani said that humanitarian aid efforts were struggling to reach those displaced by the violence.
She added that United Nations officials were also concerned that fighting had moved from the sparsely populated countryside into urban areas, posing a greater risk to civilians.She added that United Nations officials were also concerned that fighting had moved from the sparsely populated countryside into urban areas, posing a greater risk to civilians.
The Arakan Army has taken up positions in a number of civilian areas and carried out attacks targeting the police and government officials, Ms. Shamdasani said.The Arakan Army has taken up positions in a number of civilian areas and carried out attacks targeting the police and government officials, Ms. Shamdasani said.
“We expect the violence to escalate,” she added.“We expect the violence to escalate,” she added.