MYANMAR Ethnic Rohingya Human Rights Organisation Malaysia (Merhrom) is deeply saddened by the killing of a 15-year-old Rohingya boy and the injuries suffered by six Rohingya refugees when mortar shells fired from Myanmar military exploded in no man’s land near the Bangladesh-Myanmar border.
We regret that this incident took place a few days after army chiefs from 24 countries visited the refugee camps.
Obviously, the Myanmar military is sending the message that the military is immune from any legal actions and is not afraid of violating the sovereignty of Bangladesh.
This incident raises critical questions. First, who is the real target of mortar shells from the Myanmar military? The Arakan Army (AA) or the Rohingya?
The mortar shells are fired at targets which are close, as mortars do not have long range. The military is aware that the no man’s land is populated by the Rohingya refugees, not the AA. Obviously, the military is targeting the Rohingya, not the AA.
Second, how could the mortar shells from the Myanmar military fired directly into no man’s land, which is very close to Bangladesh and the refugee camps that can seriously threaten people’s lives and violate Bangladesh’s sovereignty and security?
Third, the military has been fighting with the AA for many years in Arakan state. The question is why has the fighting between them resulted in the killing of the Rohingya mostly, and not themselves?
Fourth, why did the fighting between the Myanmar military and AA take place mostly in the Rohingya villages where we witness lots of Rohingya villagers being killed while they are fighting?
Fifth, why did the Myanmar military continue attacking Bangladesh territory and sovereignty despite the Bangladesh government issuing the summonses to Myanmar’s ambassador in Bangladesh?
On 28th August 2022, the military dropped two live bombs from artillery shelling inside Bangladesh (Gundum, Tumbru) border which populated by the Rohingya.
This is obviously a major threat to Bangladesh territory and sovereignty as well as the lives of one million Rohingya refugees who seek refuge in the refugee camps as the mortar shells landed very close to the refugee camps.
Arakan Army also targeting villagers
The truth is that the Rohingya are targeted by both the Myanmar military and the AA.
We have much evidence on how the Myanmar military and AA persecuted the Rohingya villagers constantly. This situation has forced the Rohingya to flee the country to seek refuge.
Both the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army forced the Rohingya villagers to leave their villages as they wanted to fight each other. The truth is that the fighting between the Myanmar military and the AA is a genocidal strategy by the military, as more Rohingya were killed compared to the fighting parties.
Following the incident, we understand that the access to six townships, namely Buthidaung, Maungdaw, Rathedaung, Mrauk U, Minbya and Myebon, is temporarily blocked by the military. We urge the United Nations and the international community to closely monitor the situation in Arakan state.
We appeal to the Bangladesh government and the UNHCR to help the 4,000 Rohingya who are stranded in no man’s land.
How long they could survive there in constant fear where their safety is at risk? Humanitarian aid must be rendered to them immediately and their safety must be prioritised.
We urge the United Nations and its member states to hold an emergency meeting to discuss the repeated attack by the Myanmar military against the Rohingya at the border, as well as the attack on Bangladesh security and sovereignty, which clearly violates international law.
The 77th session of the UN General Assembly which takes place from September 13 to 27 in New York City is the right time to concretely discuss the situation of the Rohingya and the situation in Myanmar.
Delaying legal actions against the Myanmar military and perpetrators only allows more innocent people to be killed and more civilians will be driven out of the country and become refugees in neighbouring countries. – The Vibes, September 19, 2022
Zafar Ahmad Abdul Ghani is president of Myanmar Ethnic Rohingya Human Rights Organisation in Malaysia (Merhrom)
