Joint Statement: Investigation Commission of
Myanmar Indulges in Falsehood again
Joint Statement
18 December 2016
Investigation Commission of Myanmar Indulges in
Falsehood again
We, the undersigned Rohingya organisations worldwide,
strongly condemn the false and fabricated statement of the Government
Investigation Commission, led by military appointed Vice-President U Myint Swe,
which was released on 14 December 2016 particularly for the following reasons:
1. The members of the Commission made a 3-day trip to
Rohingya villages in northern Maungdaw Township, such as Kyigang Pyin, Kyein
Chaung (Bawli Bazar), Ngakura, Pyint Phyu Chaung, Praung Pyite, Wabeik, Gwa
Sone, Thara Oat, Dar Gyi Zar, Zin Pyin Nya and Kyet Yoe Pyin before issuing
this statement.
2. But 95% of the male villagers, including the leading
persons of the villages, had been driven out or asked to stay away from their
villages, ahead of the visit by the Commission members to most of the Rohingya
villages. The soldiers even threatened the villagers of serious consequences if
they apprised the commission of any human rights violations committed by the
forces there.
3. Despite such threats and pressure some of the Rohingya
village elders came out from their hiding places and met with the members of
the Commission. In all villages the Rohingya men, women, students and children
categorically informed them that the soldiers had committed mass atrocities and
indulged in killings, rapes, arson and loots. The commission members heard them
without taking any note of what the Rohingyas complained. The Rohingya
villagers are aggrieved that whatever they had narrated of the atrocities
committed by them before the Commission members their accounts and complaints
were deliberately kept out of the statement of the Commission. It is clear that
this statement of the commission is not transparent and is devoid of any truth.
4. The news that appeared in the U.K. Guardian newspaper on
10 December that 8 members of the Noor Ayesha of Kyet Yoe Pyin village were
killed was a true occurrence. Her 5 children were burned to death, her husband
was shot dead, her two daughters were raped before they were killed and she was
also raped. A number of Kyet Yoe Pyin villagers knew her family. With her
family she indeed lived in Kyet Yoe Pyin until that day of October she lost 8
members of her family.
5. It is a blatant lie that, according to the Commission’s
statement, the soldiers did not perpetrate any human rights violations in any
Rohingya village. However, such statement does not surprise us as we had
already rejected the formation of such Investigation Commission, which in fact
is not independent and represents the perpetrators themselves.
6. Therefore, we again demand for an UN-sponsored
International Investigation Commission in order to find out the truth and bring
the perpetrators of all atrocities in the Rohingya villages to justice.
Signatories;
Arakan Rohingya National Organisation
Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK
Bradford Rohingya Community in UK
Burmese Rohingya Community in Denmark
Burmese Rohingya Community in Australia
Burmese Rohingya Association Japan
Canadian Burmese Rohingya Organisation
Rohingya Advocacy Network in Japan
Rohingya Arakanese Refugee Committee
Rohingya Community in Germany
Rohingya Community in Switzerland
Rohingya Community in Finland
Rohingya Community in Italy
Rohingya Community in Sweden
Rohingya Organisation Norway
Rohingya Society Netherlands
Rohingya Society Malaysia
For more information, please contact:
U.K.: Tun Khin +44 7888714866
Germany: Nay San Lwin +49 69 26022349
Japan: Zaw Min Htut +81-8030835327
Australia: Dr. Hla Myint +61-423381904
Canada: Nur Hashim +1 (519) 572-5359
Bangladesh: Ko Ko Linn +880-1726068413