Renewed Violence Against Rohingya in Myanmar Raises Alarms as Crisis Approaches Seventh Anniversary
As the seventh anniversary of the Rohingya crisis nears, Amnesty International has issued a stark warning about escalating violence against the Rohingya population in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, drawing disturbing parallels to the mass atrocities of 2017.
Recent reports from Myanmar indicate a rise in deadly attacks, leading to widespread displacement and a resurgence of fear among Rohingya communities.
Amnesty International’s Myanmar Researcher, Joe Freeman, highlighted the grim situation, stating, “Rohingya men, women, and children are being killed, towns are emptying out, and vestiges of Rohingya history and identity are being eroded.” Many Rohingya are once again fleeing to refugee camps in Bangladesh, where conditions have deteriorated significantly. The ongoing conflict between the Arakan Army (AA) and the Myanmar military has exacerbated the plight of Rohingya civilians, who are reportedly being coerced into fighting for the military.
The Myanmar military has intensified aerial assaults, indiscriminately targeting civilian areas and destroying homes and marketplaces. Freeman urged an immediate cessation of violence, emphasizing that civilians are bearing the brunt of the conflict, which has displaced millions across the country. Meanwhile, the Arakan Army faces allegations of its own atrocities amidst its advances in Rakhine State.
Freeman called for increased international pressure on the Arakan Army to adhere to humanitarian law and for thorough investigations into war crimes committed by all parties involved. He also stressed the need for the United Nations Security Council to refer the situation in Myanmar to the International Criminal Court to ensure accountability.
As Bangladesh continues to host nearly one million Rohingya refugees in dire conditions, the humanitarian crisis remains urgent, with calls for the new interim government to prioritize the rights and safety of the Rohingya population, which the Interim Government Leader, Muhammad Yunus, has recently promised to address effectively.
