The unprecedented admission by the Tatmadaw that security
forces were involved in unlawfully killing Muslims in Rakhine State may have
implications for plans to repatriate verified refugees from Bangladesh.
By SITHU AUNG MYINT | FRONTIER
THE True News Information Team at the Ministry of Defence
said on January 10 that action would be taken against members of the security
forces and civilians over the summary execution in Rakhine State of 10 men it
described as “Muslim terrorists”. The announcement followed an investigation
launched by the Tatmadaw on December 20, two days after it revealed the
discovery of 10 bodies in a mass grave at a cemetery at Inn Din village, in
Maungdaw Township, northern Rakhine.
The investigation, which ended on January 2, included the
questioning of 21 security force members, three Border Guard police, 13 members
of a security regiment, six villagers and six government officials. It is the first time the Tatmadaw has
announced that the security forces and civilians have been involved in the
unlawful killing of Muslims in Rakhine. The possible consequences of the
unprecedented admission could affect plans to repatriate the 655,000 Muslims
who fled to Bangladesh after attacks by the extremist Arakan Rohingya Salvation
Army on August 25 triggered a ferocious counter-insurgency response by the
Tatmadaw.
The Tatmadaw’s January 10 announcement indicated that the
killings occurred on September 1 when security forces were conducting a clearance
operation on the beach near Inn Din village and were threatened by a mob of
about 200 “Bengalis” armed with swords, daggers and clubs. Troops opened fire
and as the mob dispersed, 10 of the attackers were chased down and caught.
A close reading of the announcement suggests that no one
in the mob was carrying lethal weapons when they launched the attack on armed
members of the security forces. Also, there is no mention in the announcement
of any member of the security forces being injured or of any exchange of fire.
It confirms only that 10 unarmed Muslim men were detained while being chased
from the scene of the mob incident. The announcement said the men had admitted
being persuaded by imams to participate in terrorist activity. However, there
is no evidence that any of the men were members of a terrorist group or that
they had been involved in any extremist activity.
The Tatmadaw announcement said it was not possible to
transfer the 10 “Bengalis” to a police station because no vehicles were available
and it was decided to take them to the cemetery and kill them.
On August 31 last year, state-run media quoted the
Tatmadaw as saying the death toll since the August 25 attacks stood at 13
members of the security forces, two government officials, 14 civilians and
“about 370 ARSA extremist terrorists”. By September 5, only one more body of an
alleged extremist was found. On the basis of this information it may be assumed
that most ARSA members had fled northern Rakhine by August 30 and the Tatmadaw
had total control over the area. It is therefore difficult to understand why it
was not possible to arrange transport to transfer the 10 “Bengalis” to a police
station.
As the incident occurred during a clearance operation, it
can be taken for granted that the security personnel involved would have been
in constant contact with their superior officers or their headquarters. It is
doubtful that the decision to execute the men was not submitted to their
superior officer. The rank of the officer who issued the order needs to be
clarified.
Most domestic media outlets reported the Tatmadaw’s
January 10 announcement with little other information or comment. If the
Tatmadaw wants to achieve credibility with the public and international
community it should allow journalists to visit Inn Din and report on what
happened.
After the Tatmadaw announcement, Rohingya activists
outside Myanmar alleged that there had been other incidents of summary
executions in the violence that followed the August 25 attacks. It has been
speculated that those who oppose the return of Rohingya refugees from
Bangladesh could exploit the Inn Din incident to sabotage the repatriation
process.
It is essential that the trial of suspects in the summary
killings at Inn Din is open to the media. Meanwhile, former Thai foreign
minister Mr Surakiart Sathirathai, has urged the government to lift the ban on
journalists and humanitarian workers entering northern Rakhine that has been in
force since August 25.
“I think press and humanitarian access to Rakhine are
important issues as well as free access to other stakeholders,” Surakiart told
Reuters in an interview in Bangkok on January 6. “Legitimate press coverage is something that
should be enhanced,” he said.
The interview followed Surakiart’s appointment by the
government late last year to head a 10-member panel that will advise it on
implementing the recommendations of the Annan commission report handed down
last August hours before the August 25 attacks.