London, UK -- The Burmese Military has continued their assault against the Rohingya population despite an order for provisional measures by the International Court of Justice, which ordered them to cease any actions targeting the minority group. Early in the morning on Saturday 22 January an artillery shell landed in a civilian area in Kin Taung Village, Buthidaung Township. Two women were killed in the explosion, one of them was pregnant. Seven others were injured and taken to Buthidaung Hospital. Witnesses from Kin Taung told BHRN that there was no fighting between the Burmese Army at the time. Villagers in Kin Taung and surrounding villages told BHRN that Burma’s 551 Light Infantry Battalion is stationed about a mile north and that there is another temporary base the same battalion established about a mile south of the village.
“This incident must be seen as a continued attack against the Rohingya civilian population by the Burmese army. The Burmese army killed two women and an unborn child while they were asleep in the middle of the night only two days after the ICJ ordered provisional measures to cease all genocidal actions against the minority. The international community must wake up and realise that Burma will not comply with the court’s decision unless the collectively pressure them to do so,” Said BHRN’s Executive Director, Kyaw Win.
The civil war in Rakhine State between the ethnic Rakhine Arakan Army and the Burmese Military has severely impacted the civilian population living in the state and there is no end in sight. As the conflict continues both Rakhine and Rohingya civilians are under threat of death, injury, and continued abuses by belligerents.
The international community must step up to enforce the ICJ’s decision to impose provisional measures on Burma to cease all genocidal operations and hold those accountable who are responsible for them. Defiance to these measures as Burma has already shown must be met with swift sanctions, cutting of all ties with the Burmese military, and isolation. The ruling of the ICJ should have been a wake-up call to the Burmese Military but it will require the action of the world to be effective.
Background on the Burma Human Rights Network (BHRN)
BHRN is based in London and operates across Burma/Myanmar working for human rights, minority rights and religious freedom in the country. BHRN has played a crucial role in advocating for human rights and religious freedom with politicians and world leaders.
Please contact:
Kyaw Win
Executive Director
Burma Human Rights Network (BHRN)
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T: +44(0) 740 345 2378
BHRN's Press Release PDF
