Seven Myanmar soldiers jailed 10 years over Rohingya killings
ChannelNews Asia, 11 Apr 2018
Seven
Myanmar soldiers have been sentenced to jail with hard labour for their part in
the extrajudicial killings of 10 Rohingya Muslim men last year, according to a
Facebook post by the army chief late on Tuesday
Myanmar soldiers have been sentenced to jail with hard labour for their part in
the extrajudicial killings of 10 Rohingya Muslim men last year, according to a
Facebook post by the army chief late on Tuesday
 |
|
Nearly 700,000
Rohingya have crossed into Bangladesh since August alone,
fleeing army violence
in Rakhine state that US and UN officials say amounted to ethnic cleansing AFP/Munir Uz Zaman |
YANGON – The
bloody incident in Inn Din village on Sep 2 is the only atrocity to which the
military has admitted during its violent crackdown in northern Rakhine state
which has forced some 700,000 Rohingya to flee over the border into Bangladesh
since August last year.
Two
Reuters journalists, Myanmar nationals Wa Lone, 31, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 27, were
investigating the massacre when they were arrested in December on the outskirts
of Yangon for possessing classified documents that could land them up to 14
years in jail if convicted.
Reuters journalists, Myanmar nationals Wa Lone, 31, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 27, were
investigating the massacre when they were arrested in December on the outskirts
of Yangon for possessing classified documents that could land them up to 14
years in jail if convicted.
A month
after their detention, the military issued a statement in a rare admission of
wrongdoing that some of its security forces had been involved in the killing
and pledging to take action against those responsible.
after their detention, the military issued a statement in a rare admission of
wrongdoing that some of its security forces had been involved in the killing
and pledging to take action against those responsible.
However,
the army has repeatedly claimed the Rohingya men were “terrorists”,
but has not presented any evidence to back up the allegation.
the army has repeatedly claimed the Rohingya men were “terrorists”,
but has not presented any evidence to back up the allegation.
“Four
officers have been purged (from the army) and given a 10 year prison sentence
with hard labour. A further three soldiers were purged and given a 10 year
prison sentence with hard labour in a criminal prison,” read the post from
Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.
officers have been purged (from the army) and given a 10 year prison sentence
with hard labour. A further three soldiers were purged and given a 10 year
prison sentence with hard labour in a criminal prison,” read the post from
Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.
The
tribunal took place behind closed doors, ignoring international calls for an
independent inquiry.
tribunal took place behind closed doors, ignoring international calls for an
independent inquiry.
The
arrest of the Reuters journalists has provoked global outrage with calls for
the pair’s release echoing around the world as they wait to hear whether the
court will throw out their case on Wednesday.
arrest of the Reuters journalists has provoked global outrage with calls for
the pair’s release echoing around the world as they wait to hear whether the
court will throw out their case on Wednesday.
Their
report, based on testimony from Buddhist villagers, security officers and
relatives of the slain men, described how Myanmar troops and Buddhist villagers
executed the 10 men before dumping their bodies into a mass grave.
report, based on testimony from Buddhist villagers, security officers and
relatives of the slain men, described how Myanmar troops and Buddhist villagers
executed the 10 men before dumping their bodies into a mass grave.
It
included photographs of the victims, hands bound and kneeling on the floor
prior to the killing – and of their bodies in a pit afterwards.
included photographs of the victims, hands bound and kneeling on the floor
prior to the killing – and of their bodies in a pit afterwards.
Myanmar’s
civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi has welcomed the army admission as a
“positive step”.
civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi has welcomed the army admission as a
“positive step”.
‘Hallmarks
of genocide’
of genocide’
The country’s
military has a grim track record of rights abuses over 50 years of rule.
military has a grim track record of rights abuses over 50 years of rule.
Many had
hoped Suu Kyi’s new democratic government that swept to power in 2016 would see
the army step back from its notorious “scorched earth” approach to
rebellion and conflict, but the crackdown on the Rohingya in Rakhine state
banished those hopes.
hoped Suu Kyi’s new democratic government that swept to power in 2016 would see
the army step back from its notorious “scorched earth” approach to
rebellion and conflict, but the crackdown on the Rohingya in Rakhine state
banished those hopes.
Amnesty
International called the summary killings at Inn Din “the tip of the
iceberg” in terms of atrocities carried out since August and has
repeatedly urged a wider, impartial probe.
International called the summary killings at Inn Din “the tip of the
iceberg” in terms of atrocities carried out since August and has
repeatedly urged a wider, impartial probe.
The UN
has accused Myanmar’s army of ethnic cleansing, saying there are even possible
“hallmarks of genocide” with refugees bringing with them consistent
testimony of murder, rape and arson.
has accused Myanmar’s army of ethnic cleansing, saying there are even possible
“hallmarks of genocide” with refugees bringing with them consistent
testimony of murder, rape and arson.
Doctors
Without Borders (MSF) estimate that at least 6,700 Rohingya were killed in the
first month of the military crackdown alone.
Without Borders (MSF) estimate that at least 6,700 Rohingya were killed in the
first month of the military crackdown alone.
Myanmar
denies the allegations, justifying its campaign in Rakhine as a legitimate
response to Rohingya militants and blaming the international media and aid
agencies for spreading false information fuelled by a pro-Rohingya bias.
denies the allegations, justifying its campaign in Rakhine as a legitimate
response to Rohingya militants and blaming the international media and aid
agencies for spreading false information fuelled by a pro-Rohingya bias.
After
decades of discrimination and propaganda against them, the Rohingya are widely
viewed as “Bengalis” – or illegal immigrants from Bangladesh – in the
Buddhist-majority country.
decades of discrimination and propaganda against them, the Rohingya are widely
viewed as “Bengalis” – or illegal immigrants from Bangladesh – in the
Buddhist-majority country.
Northern
Rakhine state has largely been in lockdown since the campaign began eight
months ago with access to media, observers and most aid groups tightly
controlled.
Rakhine state has largely been in lockdown since the campaign began eight
months ago with access to media, observers and most aid groups tightly
controlled.
