New York –
New satellite imagery of Burma’s Arakan (Rakhine) State shows 820 newly
identified structures destroyed in five different ethnic Rohingya villages
between November 10-18, 2016, Human Rights Watch said yesterday. The Burmese
government should without further delay invite the United Nations to assist in
an impartial investigation of the widespread destruction of villages.
The latest
images bring the total number of destroyed buildings documented by Human Rights
Watch in northern Arakan (Rakhine) State through satellite imagery to 1,250. US
Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power, at a November 17 UN Security Council
meeting on the deteriorating situation in Arakan (Rakhine) State, called for
international observers to be allowed to investigate and for aid groups to have
their access restored. After a short visit by diplomats to the area, Yanghee
Lee, the UN special rapporteur on Burma, said on November 18, “The security
forces must not be given carte blanche to step up their operations under the
smokescreen of having allowed access to an international delegation. Urgent
action is needed to bring resolution to the situation.”
“These
alarming new satellite images confirm that the destruction in Rohingya villages
is far greater and in more places than the government has admitted,” said Brad
Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “The apparent arson attacks against
five Rohingya villages is a matter of grave concern for which the Burmese
government needs to investigate and prosecute those responsible. UN
participation is crucial for such an investigation to be credible.”
Human Rights
Watch also reviewed thermal anomaly data collected by environmental satellite
sensors that detected the presence of multiple active fires burning in the
village of Pwint Hpyu Chaung on November 12, in Dar Gyi Zar on November 13, and
in Yae Khat Chaung Gwa Son on November 13, 14, and 15. Dense tree cover may
have concealed a limited number of additional buildings that were destroyed,
making it possible that the actual number is higher.
At a press
conference on November 15 in response to Human Rights Watch’s November 13
statement, the Burmese government admitted widespread burning but claimed that
the total number of buildings destroyed was significantly lower. The government
cited helicopter flyovers of the area to arrive at its figures and blamed
others for the burnings.
The new
imagery shows village destruction that far exceeds the figures released by the
Burmese government, Human Rights Watch said. On November 15, the Burmese
military reported that militants burned down 60 homes in Dar Gyi Sar, while the
State Counsellor Office’s newly created “Information Committee” reported on
November 16 that only 30 buildings were destroyed in the same town. The new
imagery shows that 265 buildings have been destroyed in Dar Gyi Zar alone. The
State Counsellor’s information committee press release on November 16
mistakenly attributed a claim that all buildings were destroyed in Dar Gyi Zar
to Human Rights Watch.
Both the
military and the State Counsellor’s information committee reported that 105
buildings were destroyed in Wa Peik village. Satellite imagery collected by
Human Rights Watch between November 10-17 shows that an additional 220
buildings were destroyed. This newly documented destruction, coupled with the
100 buildings Human Rights Watch imagery determined were destroyed from images
collected between October 9 and November 3, brings the total to 320 buildings
destroyed in Wa Peik village.
“On November 15, a government spokesperson
suggested that Human Rights Watch was part of a ‘conspiracy’ to harm Burma’s
image,” Adams said. “Instead of responding with military-era style accusations
and denials, the government should simply look at the facts and take action to
protect all people in Burma, whatever their religion or ethnicity.”
Note:
changes have been made; Human Rights Watch is not responsible for these.
Source:
Human Rights watch