Date: April 23, 202

The Rakhine people are dealing with multiple challenges, including the constant acts of violence committed by the State, (Government of Myanmar) against Rakhine people and other minority communities. In addition, the people are faced with dealing with the problem of natural disasters, displacement and the fear of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The recent war has led to horrific violations by the military, including mass killings, arbitrary arrests, torture, executions, indiscriminate attacks, Booming, shelling, burning the villages, and Internet shutdown that target women and children. This has been documented by human rights organizations, such as Amnesty International Humans Rights Watch; Fortify Rights, and local, national and International news agencies.

On April 13, 2020, military regime’s infantry 550 in Ponnaygun shells fired at center of Kyauk Site village that killed 12 civilians and injured many. The Burmese regime continued to bomb schools and public areas, and recently burned down villages including Tin Ma village in Kyauktaw township on March 22, 2020 and artillery-fire hit the school wounded 21 children in the village of Khamwe Chaung in Buthidaung township on February 13, 2020.

According to local humanitarian organization, (Rakhine Ethnics Congress), around 1,570,291 Rakhine remain in IDP’s camps and remain extremely vulnerable to attacks and persecution. Years of escalating violence and rising displacement in Rakhine State has led to physical and psychological trauma and the worst humanitarian emergency cannot continue to be ignored. The government of the National League for Democracy must have the political will and commitment to pursue accountability for the crimes committed against the Rakhine People.

We, the Rakhine community urge the Government of Myanmar to cooperate with the international mechanisms to ensure justice in the Rakhine State. January 2020, International Court of Justice issued an order of “Provisional Measure” against Myanmar. According to the order , the Union of Myanmar must adhere to its obligations to prevent the destruction and ensure the preservation of any evidence related to allegation of genocide.

Today, the Myanmar government’s policy fundamentally has not changed, allowing the same crimes to be committed repeatedly.

On behalf of the Rakhine Community the International Campaign for Arakan demand justice and accountability for all the vulnerable victims and their families.

International Campaign for Arakan, request an immediate investigation by UN Indipendent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar of the cases that are appropriately representative of the suffering inflicted upon the various peoples of Rakhine State.

We called on the United Nations and the international community to protect all communities from genocide and war crimes in Arakan state.

Sincerely,

International Campaign for Arakan
1050 Connecticut ave, Washington DC, WA 20036