An Open Letter to Mr. Kofi Annan

By Habib Siddiqui

Dear Mr. Annan,

I am very disappointed with your statement, dated August 25, 2017, concerning the latest violence in the Rakhine state of Myanmar. You stated, “I am saddened to hear of the loss of life of members of the security forces. The alleged scale and gravity of these attacks mark a worrying escalation of violence. No cause can justify such brutality and senseless killing. Perpetrators should be held to account.”

From the first sentence of that paragraph, it is not difficult to understand where your sympathy lies. It is, sadly, with the Myanmar government that sponsored your Commission and its criminal perpetrators – the Myanmar security forces and surely not with the Rohingya victims who should have deserved such. You equivocated when it was necessary to take the moral high ground and to call a spade a spade. I am very worried that such mixed messaging will only justify the on-going genocidal crimes against the Rohingyas, much like what happened in Rwanda that you continue to regret for happening under your watch as the UN Chief. 

Has not history taught us all that violence is the last resort of an oppressed community when all pleas and other non-violent means for stopping violence directed against it have been ignored or shut down by the oppressor? And even then, the so-called violence of the oppressed against the much better armed, equipped and financed oppressor is motivated by the single factor: defending or protecting its own community. It would be gross misjudgment to equate their struggle for self-defense with the extermination campaign of the more powerful oppressor. 

I am sorry to observe that you have been misinformed. 

It is an irony that the victims of the genocide - the Rohingyas - are now framed as the ones in the wrong side because of their alleged attacks on Myanmar security forces this past week or back in October of last year. Forgotten in that calculus are decades of genocidal crimes of the successive military regimes since the days of General Ne Win that were to continue full-blown to this very date under Suu Kyi’s government. Overlooked in that context is the mere fact that being denied citizenship simply because of its racial and religious identity more than half the Rohingya population has been forced out of its ancestral land in Arakan (Rakhine state). Ignored also are the facts that Myanmar epitomizes apartheid policy in our time and flouts the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) by denying such rights to the Rohingya people. As a matter of fact, when it comes to the Rohingya – rightly recognized by the United Nations (that you once led) as the ‘most persecuted people’ in our planet – not even one of the thirty rights (Articles) enshrined in the UDHR is honored by the Apartheid Myanmar. 

I would like to believe that as the Chairperson of the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State, you know that the Burmese military (a.k.a. Tatmadaw - long known as the Rapist Burmese Army) has been building its troops in Rohingya areas of northern Arakan since August 10, effectively blockading those areas and terrorizing the already marginalized community. Under the name of interrogation, hundreds of Rohingya men and boys were taken away by military from the IDP camps. They were tortured and many were killed while Rohingya women left behind were raped as a weapon of war to ethnically cleanse them. Their homes were torched, too. The UN and Human Rights Watch, amongst many human rights groups, all were asking the Myanmar military to back off but to no avail. 

The latest episodes of atrocities perpetrated by the military resulted in fresh influx of thousands of Rohingyas into Bangladesh. That is despite stepped-up patrols by Bangladeshi border and coast guards, who last week had pushed back a boat carrying 31 Rohingya, including children. The Balukhali camp (in Cox’s Bazar of Bangladesh) alone saw new arrivals of some 3,000 Rohingya refugees in the last few days. And all these happened days before the alleged attack by the Rohingya ‘insurgents’ against Rakhine police. 

As I write this letter, per credible reports, on August 25, in the early AM hours 25 Rohingya villages were bombed by Burmese military reportedly using six gunship helicopters, navy ships and tanks as Rohingyas were sleeping in the middle of the night. It is feared that hundreds of Rohingyas have been slaughtered and more than a thousand homes set on fire on Friday making tens of thousands of Rohingyas homeless because of the latest military action. 

When life on earth has become unbearable and worse than death for the oppressed Rohingya is it difficult to fathom why some would ‘radicalize’ and choose to fight back – and justifiably so – with whatever means available? Now the criminal Burmese military claims that 59 "insurgents" and 12 soldiers were killed after Thursday midnight. They say that "insurgents" were armed with machetes. As you know too well, farmers use machetes, "insurgents" don’t. 

No one would disagree with you that violence is not the solution and that exercising restraint is important to avoid further escalation. However, the ball is in the military’s court and it is they who need to be restrained from harming the Rohingya people. Truly, if our world leaders had the moral fortitude these war criminals would have been tried long time ago in the International Criminal Court for their decades of crimes against humanity - which by no means were limited to the Rohingyas alone but also to other ethnic minorities that have been fighting for their survival. It would be sensible to reflect that for the last 40 plus years Rohingyas have been peacefully asking for the restoration of their citizenship and other rights whereas the other ethnic groups, non-Bamar Buddhists and Christian, in Myanmar are fighting the government with guns.

Suu Kyi and her brutal military have been too cunning for too long to deflect international pressure. Bluntly put, the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State that you chaired was one such window-dressing attempt by the Myanmar government to ease pressures from the international community and humanize the hideous face of Myanmarism that has contributed to so much human suffering: the destruction of tens of thousands of homes, businesses, schools and mosques, the encampment of some 140,000 Rohingyas in the concentration-like IDP camps, widespread rape of women, let alone the forced exodus of nearly 87,000 to neighboring Bangladesh, since 2012 alone. [According to the UN, 52% of the women they surveyed in refugee camps in Bangladesh were raped by the Tadmadaw. Seventy percent of these 87,000 refugees are women and children since men are either killed or imprisoned.]

Suu Kyi’s government won’t even allow any international investigation team to visit the troubled Rakhine state and inquire about serious charges of war crimes perpetrated by the government security forces - all committed in cahoots with ever growing fascist elements within the broader Buddhist society that see no place for religious minorities to live inside Myanmar. 

Mr. Annan, you have admitted in your own report the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State that she formed "is a national entity and the majority of its members are from Myanmar". Its mandate did not allow the use of the term 'Rohingya' in accordance with the wishes of Ms. Suu Kyi. In spite of such obstacles you faced, I am glad that the report you submitted is a milestone for the Rohingya by calling for lifting restrictions on movement and citizenship for its persecuted Rohingya minority if Myanmar wants to avoid fueling "extremism" and bring peace to the Rakhine state. 

Suu Kyi, sadly, has never been sincere to resolving the Rohingya problem. She has denied their very existence and has been widely condemned by all quarters, including fellow Nobel Laureates. 

Did you ever ponder about why the so-called insurgency of the Rohingya who had hitherto, by all accounts, been the most non-violent minority happened just shortly after your appointment as the chair to the commission and also within hours of submission of your final report this week? Who benefits from such violence, and who loses? 

It is the Rohingya that loses the game played in such an uneven playing field. It is the Myanmar government and its Tatmadaw that win. They never wanted a peaceful solution to the decades-long problem, which they had initiated. And they don’t want to implement the recommendations you have put forth in your commission report either. So, they planned, moved to the Rohingya areas, cordoned off and committed war crimes to trigger off the latest episode blaming once again their victims to justify their on-going atrocities under the pretext of being attacked by the insurgents. The violence that they unleashed this week and before is all part of a very sinister long-term strategy to ethnically cleanse minority Rohingyas. It was no accident and did not happen in vacuum!

Your commission report rightly noted that if human rights were not respected and "the population remain politically and economically marginalised - northern Rakhine State may provide fertile ground for radicalisation, as local communities may become increasingly vulnerable to recruitment by extremists". "While Myanmar has every right to defend its own territory, a highly militarised response is unlikely to bring peace to the area," the report also said.

The perpetrators of violence are the Myanmar security forces who should be held to account. They have failed to heed to your recommendations, and won’t be sobered by mixed messaging coming from international dignitaries like you. It is high time to try these brutes and savages in the International Criminal Court to save humanity, failing which I am afraid, Mr. Annan, we may see the end of Rohingya community in the den of intolerance called Myanmar. She remains the last vestige of an apartheid state in our time.

On March 26, 2004, you stated with respect to Rwanda genocide, “If the United Nations, government officials, the international media and other observers had paid more attention to the gathering signs of disaster, and taken timely action, it might have been averted. Warnings were missed.” 

Sir, there is no excuse this time. There is no ‘guilt of sin of omission’ within us. Ms. Yanghee Lee, the United Nations special rapporteur, has warned us; the international media, Human Rights Watch, Fortify Rights, Amnesty International and other observers have all warned us repeatedly about the Rohingya catastrophe. It needs a leader like you to stop their extinction. In this regard, remember that genocide is a process and not an outcome. Stop it when it is not late.

Please, be forceful in condemning Myanmarism and its viciousness that have caused so much human suffering in our time. If it is not you, who will? The lessons from Rwanda should make you better prepared to stop this slow-burning genocide that the minority Rohingyas are facing today. Help them to survive and live as equal citizens in Myanmar. Please, take the lead in this noble cause. 

Thanking you for reading my letter.

Kind regards,

(Dr.) Habib Siddiqui

Philadelphia, USA

saeva@aol.com

By Al Jazeera

August 26, 2017

Bangladeshi border guards say troops fired mortars and machine guns at Rohingya civilians trying to escape bloodshed. 

Myanmar soldiers opened fire on fleeing Rohingya civilians - mostly women and children - as they attempted to cross the border into Bangladesh and escape surging violence. 

On Saturday an AFP news agency reporter at Bangladesh's Ghumdhum border post counted more than a dozen mortar shells and countless machine gun rounds fired by Myanmar security forces in nearby hills onto a large group of Rohingya desperately trying to cross. 

It was not immediately clear if any were hit, but the civilians scattered to evade the barrage. 

"They have fired on civilians, mostly women and children, hiding in the hills near the zero line," Border Guard Bangladesh's (BGB) station chief Manzurul Hassan Khan confirmed. 

"They fired machine guns and mortar shells suddenly, targeting the civilians. They have not consulted with the BGB," he added.

Anita Schug of the European Rohingya Council, speaking from the Swiss city of Solothurn, told Al Jazeera her organisation could verify the report.

"We have videos from the ground and we can share them if requested confirming that this news is true," she said.

"Burmese military together with the Rakhine extremists armed with knives, swords, machetes and guns are attacking the Rohingya innocent civilians who are not armed at all."

Thousands trapped

Thousands of Rohingya Muslims escaping violence in Myanmar were trapped at the border with Bangladesh as new fighting erupted in restive Rakhine state.

Clashes began on Friday between security forces and Rohingya rebels leaving at least 92 people dead, including 12 soldiers, forcing civilians to flee. 

"Many Rohingya people are trying to enter the country, but we have a zero tolerance policy - no one will be allowed," Mohammad Ali Hossain, deputy commissioner of Cox's Bazar district near the Myanmar border, told Reuters news agency.

Later on Saturday, Mohammad Nur - a Rohingya leader at an unregistered camp in Cox's Bazar - told the AP news agency by phone he heard about 100,000 Rohingya had gathered along the border to try to enter Bangladesh. That figure could not be confirmed.

Gunfire rang out across the northern part of Rakhine state on Saturday as clashes between the two sides continued.

Bangladeshi officials regularly advocate a tough approach to refugees in official interviews, but typically end up letting them through.

An AFP reporter at the scene said hundreds of Rohingya made it across the porous border early on Saturday when border patrols were relaxed because of heavy rain, with some swimming across the Naf river.

An emergency ward doctor said two Rohingya men who had been shot in Myanmar entered Bangladesh and were taken to a hospital.

"One of them, aged 25, died hours after he was admitted here," the doctor said on condition of anonymity.

Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees are already in Bangladesh and 87,000 have arrived since October 2016, after an attack by rebels killed nine security forces and resulted in a major crackdown in Rakhine state. 

Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar's de facto leader, "strongly condemned" Friday's "brutal attacks by terrorists on security forces in Rakhine state".

"I would like to commend the members of the police and security forces who have acted with great courage in the face of many challenges," Suu Kyi said.

The government said it had evacuated officials, teachers, and hundreds of non-Rohingya villagers to army bases and police stations.

The focal point of Friday's unrest was Rathedaung township. The area has seen a heavy build-up of troops in recent weeks, with reports filtering out of killings by shadowy groups, army-blockaded villages, and abuses.

The Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) claimed responsibility for Friday's attacks in a Twitter post but did not mention casualty figures or how many fighters were involved.

ARSA, accusing the Myanmar forces of killings and rape, said on Friday it was "taking defensive actions" in more than 25 different locations.

The government has declared the group a "terrorist" organisation.

Observers worry the latest attacks will spark an even more aggressive army response and trigger communal clashes between Muslims and Buddhist ethnic Rakhines.

"25 Aug attack in N Rakine utmost concern! Violence must stop in Rakhine. Heartfelt sorrow 4 deaths. Beg all sides 2 take restraint! Everyone!" Yanghee Lee, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, said on Twitter.

The Rohingya Muslims are denied citizenship in Myanmar and are classified as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, despite claiming roots in the region that go back centuries.

About 1.1 million Rohingya live in Myanmar.

The mistreatment of the Rohingya Muslims, often described as the world's most persecuted minority, has emerged as Myanmar's most contentious human rights issue as it makes a transition from decades of military rule.

By Haikal Mansor

RB Article

August 26, 2017

The clashes between Rohingya insurgents at a number of Burmese police posts in Maungdaw, Buthidaung and Rathedaung townships on August 25, 2017, are followed by month-long provocations from Burmese Military and Rakhine Extremists.

These offensive and provocative acts are believed to be strategic moves towards militarisation by the military intelligence, with an aim to create further fears and chaos among the communities living in the northern Rakhine State.

These provocations–expanded upon below– are a calculated attempt to undermine the recommendations made by Kofi Annan’s Advisory Commission, which officially submitted the final report to Aung San Suu Kyi led National League for Democracy NLD government on Friday, August 25.

The recommendations of the commission: providing Rohingya with citizenship, healthcare, education, freedom of movement, access to justice, media, humanitarian aid, and avoidance of excessive forces, are incompatible to the long-term policies of Tatmadaw (Burma’s Armed Forces) in the region which is seen as one of the frontiers of its survival or strength against the influential NLD government in Rakhine. When the creation of commission was announced, Tatmadaw, Tatmadaw-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), now-rebranded Ma Ba Tha Islamophobic monk organization and Rakhine nationalists jointly rejected the commission which was seen as “foreigners’ intervention”,

It is no coincidence that the attacks took place on the same day the government welcomed the commission’s recommendations, which the military finds “factual flaws and deficiencies”.

Wednesday, August 9 – TATMADAW AND RAKHINE LAWMAKERS MEETING

Commander-in-chief of Tatmadaw Senior-general Min Aung Hlaing finds the Rakhine nationalist Arakan National Party (ANP) as the best suitable partner to affiliate with in order to influence their respective presence in the region. Min Aung Hlaing received ANP leader Aye Maung and party lawmakers in Naypyidaw on August 9, where ANP suggested arming and training Rakhine and Buddhist settlers, and to form a ‘people’s militia’ against Rohingya Muslim civilians.

Both Tatmadaw and ANP share the same ideology – finding a scapegoat in Rohingya community for their failures and fulfilment of their ultimate goal in getting rid of Rohingya from Rakhine State.

Thursday, August 10 – BUILD-UP OF ARMED FORCES

A day after the high-level meeting between Tatmadaw and Rakhine lawmakers, Min Aung Hlaing deployed a fully equipped battalion to Maungdaw township at the request of the lawmakers for the security and training of Rakhine and Buddhist settlers­– who are resettled on land that was confiscated from Rohingyas in strategic locations in Rohingya-majority townships such as Maungdaw and Buthidaung.

U Pe Than, an ANP lawmaker from Myebon Township in the Lower House said the following on August 10. “We’ve officially asked for further deployment of Tatmadaw forces for the security of Rakhine State. We pointed out that existing security forces are too small to protect ethnic villages.” The army chief said the Tatmadaw has large forces and that he would increase the troops if necessary. The plan was executed today.

The military has been expanding the security posts in the region. “We have been building 30 more security posts [in Maungdaw], so there will be 126 posts. We started building them yesterday [October 20, 2016]. We will deploy more security police as well,” said Chan Thar, Rakhine State’s Social Welfare Minister.

Sunday, August 13 – RAKHINE EXTREMISTS PROTEST

Rakhine hardliners and fanatic monks staged mass protests in 15 out of 17 townships in Rakhine State, calling the central government and the military to “implement 1982 Citizenship Law precisely”; “wipe out” Rohingya; “form [people’s] militia for security of ethnic people”; “expel all International NGOs including UNHCR and WFP [from] Rakhine State as soon as possible”.

In a statement released on August 9, Sittwe Administration Committee ordered Rohingya IDP [internally displaced persons] camps management across the State, to ban U.N. and International NGOs from conducting Data Assessment and Survey Activities. The organizations are falsely accused of being bias towards Rakhine, and of supporting Rohingya insurgents.

On November 7, 2016, more than 100 recruits between the age of 18 and 35, were provided a 16-week training in Sittwe

“They [people’s militia] will be given weapons and other equipment, like police,” claimed Lin Lin Oo, an assistant to the commander of Border Guard Police in Maungdaw.

Tuesday, August 15 – FARMERS TORTURED IN CHUT PYIN, RATHEDAUNG

While Rohingya farmers in Chut Pyin (Fringdaung) were removing grasses and sedges from their paddy fields, a group of armed forces and Buddhist settlers stormed the village and tortured the farmers.

Eight Rohingya identified as the victims of the raid were Adulatif (50, s/o Nur Ahmed), Abdullah (43, s/o Abul Hakim), Habiroon (39, s/o Baru), Rohim Ullah (39, s/o Abdul Salam), Younus (20, s/o Rohim Ullah), Ramzan (25, s/o Hafez Ahmed), Younus (21, s/o Siddique) and Mohammed Alam (13, Abdul Hamid).

On the following day, two teenage brothers Sayedul Rahman (20) and Abdul Rahman (15), sons of Roshan Ali were also inhumanely beaten by the armed forces.

Another two Rohingya – MD Kasim (55, s/o Abdu Boshir) and Kadir Huson (50, s/o Sultan Ahmed), were beaten with military boots and rifle butts in Thin Ga Net village leaving one of them in critical condition.

The villagers also claimed that a herd of their cattle were forcefully taken away by the settlers who were supported by the armed forces in the looting.

Saturday, August 19 – FISHERMAN DECAPITATED IN THA PYAY TAW, RATHEDAUNG

A Rohingya fisherman was decapitated in a river near Tha Pyay Taw (also known as Saw Prang), Hpet Leik village tract, Rathedaung Township on August 19.

The victim was identified as Sharif Hossain, son of Siddque Ahmed who went fishing to the river at around 4:30pm (GMT +6:30). He was reportedly attacked by some Rakhine extremist settlers, brutally decapitated before throwing the body into the river.

After receiving a distress call from another Rohingya fisherman who saw what believed to be a part of Mr. Sharif body in the river, the villagers went to the site where the murder took place. They found the presence of blood, but no body.

Friday August 18 – ROHINGYA FAMILY TORTURED IN THAN GAN NET, RATHEDAUNG

On Friday, 18 August, Mohammed Tayoub (33, son of Nur Mohammed) and his two young daughters were harassed and tortured by the armed forces and Rakhine extremists while fishing in a river. The family belonged to, Rathedaung, where the attack took place.

Mohammed Tayoub was a firewood seller in profession, however he is unable to go to forests to collect firewood due to the increase violence and the restriction of movement against Rohingya. As a result, he, along with his daughters went to a nearby river to catch some fish in order to support his family.

When they were caught fishing, the forces took them to nearby Than Zin Myaing Rakhine village where they were harassed and tortured by Rakhine extremists and military personnel. The family is then released leaving behind severe marks sustained from the torture, and unable to afford or get medical treatment.

Friday, August 4 – RAID IN AUK NAN YAR, RATHEDAUNG

The security forces escort in a demolished Rohingya hut [AFP]

By Dr Maung Zarni
RB Opinion
August 26, 2017

To start with, Annan's report itself stressed that all the military MPs in the national parliament joined hands with the military-backed former ruling party Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) and Rakhine nationalists' Arakan National Party attempted to officially stopped the establishment of Annan Commission in the parliament. They did not succeed.

Within the past 1 year since Annan Commission was created by Aung San Suu Kyi in Sept 2017, the military and its proxies in society - such as Ma Ba Tha, anti-Muslim and anti-Rohingya monk group have pushed non-operation with it, something the final report itself noted.

Weeks before Annan Commission released its final report, the Burmese military high command was very busy, mobilizing and air-lifting hundreds of troops from Light Infantry Division 33, notorious for merciless and indiscriminate killings of civilians in any urban unrest, to Rakhine, arming and training anti-Rohingya Rakhine villagers in fire arms and fighting, blockading the predominantly Rohingya region of N. Rakhine from accessing food and jobs, and spreading fears of attacks on INGOs and UN agencies providing humanitarian assistance.

You can't analyze Rohingya militancy and recent attacks, without taking in to account this build-up of both the government troops and militarizing and arming of hostile local Rakhine villages.

As a matter of the Burmese Commander in Chief Min Aung Hlaing's Burmese language Facebook timeline - updated after his meeting with Kofi Annan in the morning of the day of the Final Report's release - made it clear that the military leadership did not agree with reports' findings. His Facebook posting said the report contained factual errors, meaning not credible.

Min Aung Hlaing also apparently attempted to deceive Kofi Annan and his commission that the Burmese troops are simply engaged in the "clearance operations" targeting only the "Bengali terrorists" in the mountain hideouts where there are hardly any innocent civilians.

Then hours later the Burmese Air Force gunship helicopters were reportedly firing rockets and bombing targeted Rohingya villages.

So, "who is terrorising whom"" is the question that needs to be confronted head on.

To, 

International Organizations 

Subject : To protect the innocent Rohingya villagers immediately from inhumane killing of Myanmar's Military and Border Guard Police forces

Respectfully,

(1) We are MYARF (Myanmar Youth Activists for Rohingya Freedom), a non-profit ground-based organization. Our organization was formed after the 2012's Rakhine Crisis. We have been sharing the accurate information to International Human Rights Organizations about the inhumane killings and Human Rights abuses of Myanmar's Armed Forces on Rohingya people. By digging up the truth, we on time have covered the real event of 2016's October 9th violence. Moreover, we have been keeping on the update information of daily abuses on Rohingyas in Northern Rakhine State. 

(2) Since decades, we the Rohingyas living in Northern Rakhine State have been suffering the plight of persecution. Since 2012's violence, we have been suffering the intensive brutalities on each day. On the other hand, we almost Rohingyas were announced as stateless by Myanmar's government. Being the stateless and suffered unbearable persecution, Rohingyas has formed ARSA aiming to defense for themselves. Later on, there was attack between ARSA and Myanmar's Armed Forces in last 9th October, 2016. And the persecution on Rohingyas have counted as the most unbearable. 

(3) On 24th of August, 2017, there was clash between ARSA and Myanmar's Armed Forces at night again. Then Myanmar's Armed Forces have been raiding across the Rohingya villages and shooting to the villagers whom they see. Yesterday within 24-hours, at least 100 innocent Rohingya villagers including children were shot to dead and 300 Rohingya houses were burnt down firing the launchers by Myanmar's Armed Forces. The account of home-leaving Rohingyas to nearby mountain could be thousands now. There in mountain, children are without food to eat and water to drink since yesterday. All are frantic now there in rain.

(4) It is known that Myanmar government releases the news viral as terrorists by killing innocent Rohingya old men, women and children. Thus, Rohingya villagers become so helpless now. Despite seeing no way to move anywhere, now Rohingyas are facing starving. Helplessly, we all Rohingya in Northern Rakhine State worry now for when we be killed. 

(5) If the international organizations fail to protect us today, tomorrow the numbers of dead would be thousands. We therefore wholeheartedly appeal the international organizations to protect us immediately before the mass killing going on us.

It is the heartfelt appeal of those Rohingya minority whom you, the international organizations defined as the world's most persecuted.

Let's us hope for your saving hands immediately!

RB News
August 26, 2017

The reports, on the second day (August 26), of offensives by the Myanmar military and Border Guard Police (BGP) against the Rohingya civilians across Maungdaw, Rathedaung and Buthidaung Townships that we have received so far.

1- 11am 26/8/2017:  Violence on the Rohingya civilians are escalating to a different level. The Myanmar armed forces and the Rakhine extremists attacking civilians in 'Myo Thu Gyi' in Maungdaw. International intervention is critically needed.

2- 25/8/2017: Over 700 Rohingya homes and shelters were burnt down, 4,000 civilians displaced in the military attacks and burning of homes at 'Chein Khali' village and IDPs in Rathedaung.
They have sought refuge in the dense forest to avoid from killings. Old, young and children alike spent whole night under the heavy rain without food and shelter.

3- 25/8/2017 evening: The Myanmar military and Rakhine extremists attempted to torch 'Pyaing Taung' Rohingya village in Rathedaung. The villagers advanced to resist and so the attackers retreated.

4- 15/8/2017 evening: The Myanmar military burnt down over 200 #Rohingya homes, 50 shops, 1 mosque and 1 religious school at 'Myint Hlut' in Southern Maungdaw on Aug 25 evening.

5- 2pm on 26/8/2017: More #Rohingya homes were burnt down by the #Myanmar Military at Quarter 5 of the 'Myint Hlut' village using fire-launchers.

6- 1pm on 26/8/2017: 3 Rohingya villagers injured at 'Thiho Kyun' village in Northern Maungdaw as the BGP opened fires when the villagers resisted against the raiding BGP.

7- 3pm on 26/8/2017: The Myanmar military are now besieging 'DaelFara'  hamlet of 'Myoma Kayintan' in Maungdaw; and about to torch Rohingya homes and attack civilians.

8- 6/8/2017 3:45pm: The Myanmar military and BGP began torching Rohingya homes and shops at 'Thiho Kyun' village in Northern Maungdaw using fire-launchers.
Half of the village has already been razed. Neighboring villgers are still hearing the sounds of fire-launchers.

9- 3:30pm (Bangladesh Time) on 26/8/2017: A Rohingya youth injured during rampant shootings by the Myanmar military at 'Kyein Chaung' village in Northern Maungdaw on August 25 died at 'Kutupalong Refugee Camp' at today.

Identified as MD Harun, 25, from 'Kyein Chaung' village made to Bangladesh for treatments. He died on his way to hospital at around 10am and buried at around 3pm (Bangladesh Time) today.

 

RB News
August 25, 2017

Maungdaw -- Rohingya civilians at large have come under heavy attacks of the Myanmar armed forces across Maungdaw, Rathedaung and Buthidaung Townships after the members of a Rohingya resiatance group raided dozens of the Boder Guard Police (BGP) Force and military bases this early morning, sources say.

Until now, at least 200 civilians are highly believed to have been killed by the Myanmar military and BGP across the three townships. Due to indiscriminate shootings and killings by the armed forces, many villages have been being entirely displaced in the region.

Torching and burning down of Rohingya homes by the state armed forces in collaborations with Rakhine extremists are quite rampant and widespread. In Rathedaung Township alone, 700 Rohingya homes in Chein Khali village, 200 shelters in the 'Chein Hali' IDP camps have been entirely burnt down by the joint forces of the military, the BGP and the Rakhine extremists since this morning 7am. The Zaydi Pyin village that had been totally blockaded by the state-backed Rakhine extremists for more than three weeks was partially burnt down but all the villagers were forced to leave their homes handing their properties over to the Rakhines.

"Our region is in total chaos now. They have burnt down our homes using fire-launchers, seized our properties and forced us to leave our homes. We have become totally displaced. We don't know where we will have to go now", said a displayed villager from Zaydi Pyin when contacted on phone.

Thousands of displaced Rohingyas in Rathedaung are now hiding in the nearby forests. Their lives are in maximum danger as the Myanmar armed forces can raid their hideouts and kill them at any time.

Other Rohingya villages have been under heavy military offensives are:

1) Kwan Thi Pin, 2) Mi Htaik Chaung Wa, 3) Nat Chaung, 4) Taman Thar, 5) Zee Pin Chaung, 6) Lon Doong, 7) Zin Paing Nya, 8) Ye Myet Taung, 9) Kyi Kan Pyin, 10) Tharay Kun Baung, 11) Pa Nyaung Pin Gyi, 12) Padin, 13) Alay Than Kyaw, 14) Thawan Chaung, 15) Thinbaw Kwe, 16) Udaung, 17) Myint Hlut, 18) Taung Bazaar, 19) Phaung Daw Pyin and many other villages have also come under attacks.

Over 50,000 civilians are reported to have already been displaced across the three townships on this single day alone.

The Rohingya resistance group, Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), claimed on twitter that it had to take defensive measures against the Myanmar military and security forces as the atrocities (by the military and security forces) against the Rohingya people have become intolerable. During the clashes between the Myanmar armed forces and the resistance group, both sides are reported to have casualties. Exact figures are unknown yet.

Besides, a Rakhine internal sources reveals that the Myanmar government is now plotting an inter-communal violence between Rohingyas and Rakhines.

In days to come, fightings between the Myanmar armed forces and ARSA members are likely to be more intensified. An urgent humitarian intervention and a ceasefire with international intervention are critically needed.

__________________

UPDATES:

1) The Joint forces of Myanmar and BGP along with Rakhine extremists have burnt down at least 200 Rohingya homes in 'Myint Hlut' village in Southern Maungdaw since 5pm local time.

More and more homes are being set ablaze now.
___

2) At least 11 civilians have been killed and many others were critically injured in 'Kyi Kan Pyin' village during the military raids this morning and afternoon.

Although no action by the ARSA against the Myanmar armed forces have occured in the village, the military conducted raids in the village, indiscriminately opened fire at the villagers at home and while fleeing", said a man from the village on the condition of anonymity.

The victims killed are:

1) Mohammed Taher (32), s/o Mv Osman
2) Abul Boshor (25), s/o Abdu Rozark
3) A middle-aged woman (Wife of Abul Hashim and daughter of Rashid Ahmed)
4) Ammuni (25), d/o Abdu Salam (the military also threw 11-days old son into the stream by shooting him dead.)
5) Ledu (50), s/o ?
6) Mujee Ullah (18), Ledu
7) Rashidullah (16), s/o Ledu (No. 4 is the father and 5 & 6 are his 2 sons.)
8) Osama (17), s/o Mv Abdul Amin
9) Noor Fisal s/o --- age - ?
10) Noor Boshor (17), s/o Noor Mohammed
11) Jahangir (13), s/o Nurul Amin

A teenage girl was critically injured and is struggling to survive. She is 'Rofiqa (18), d/o Noor Hussain.' Another 11 months old baby is also missing due to the chaos of blood created by the military.

3) And in the village of 'Nyaung Chaung' in southern Maungdaw, six people were killed when the military rampantly fired at the fleeing villagers.

4) At least 9 Rohingya civilians were killed by the Myanmar armed forces and the Rakhine extremists in ZediPyin in Rathedaung Township on August 25.

After 3 weeks of blockade, they partially burnt down the Rohingya village including a historical mosque and expelled all the villagers. Nowhere to go.

[MTS reports, MSRB]

[Reported by Rohingya Eye, KSM & other RB Correspondents; Edited by M.S. Anwar]

Please email to: editor@rohingyablogger.com to send your reports and feedback.

By Dr Maung Zarni

RB Opinion 

August 25, 2017

Here is the Kofi Annan Commission's report:

http://www.rakhinecommission.org/the-final-report/

I watched the Press Conference Kofi Annan and his commissioners earlier today.

The Commission proved that it was categorically more than a "shield" used by Myanmar gov. and more than a White Washing Body.

The Commission was made up of 6 Myanmar nationals, BUT no Rohingya representation: 3 Rakhines, anmattd 3 foreigners including Annan and another 3 Myanmar).

The recommendations "faced squarely" even profoundly sensitive issues such as revising the 1982 Citizenship Law, establishing equality before the law for (Rohingya, Rakhine and the rest), ending

restrictions on various Rohingya freedoms, etc.

The military leadership's response was as expected less than positive: Min Aung Hlaing and his team (of about 6 generals 2 of whom I know personally and worked with) sent out teh Burmese language official response on his Facebook. Judging from the generals' faces, Annan's attempts at securing the

generals' buy-in did NOT succeed. The generals considered Annan's reports containing FACTUAL ERRORS AND THE MESSAGE THAT RAKHINE NATIONALISTS CANNOT ACCEPT.

By all indications, the military WILL NOT implement any recommendation that fundamentally undermines their ultimate mission of cleansing Rakhine region of Rohingyas.

This is the institutionalized mission - not dependent on a single crop of generals - with its massive inertia built up over essentially 40+ years since Ne Win's time.

As Kofi Annan himself admitted the commission's role is only advisory, without any power for enforcement.

Annan commission has made positive contributions, I will admit to the wide movement to end Rohingya genocide.

Annan himself made it clear that his commission is no substitute for UN Fact Finding Mission. For Annan commission did not look into the allegations of international crimes committed against Rohingyas - including crimes against humanity and genocide.

Now from One of the "most persecuted groups", Rohingyas are referred as 'the world's largest stateless population".

As far as the Burmese military, the plight of the Rohingyas will remain as bad or worse.

It is a slow genocide. No less. Whether the word GENOCIDE is palatable to the UN or any powerful entity is irrelevant.

The victims deserve at least the proper name of the crimes by which they are perishing or their lives destroyed.

Alas, the world's bodies are full of moral and intellectual cowards, for the record.

Khmer Rouge's crimes have not been pronounced genocide, nor have Indonesian or West Pakistan genocides.

Aung San Suu Kyi would want to implement some of the recommendations. But she too lacks the power to do anything that the military will NOT accept.

So, the ball is in the activists' and campaigners' court.