Arakan News Agency
The UN has warned authorities that plans to demolish hundreds of homes belonging to ethnic minority Rohingya Muslims will “heighten tensions” in Myanmar’s Arakan state, where the military is accused of abusing civilians during counterinsurgency operations.
The warning came in a 28 December letter, obtained by IRIN and addressed to Arakan State Chief Minister Nyi Pu. It said that more than 100 structures have already been destroyed, and the UN has “received reports that the Border Guard Police have served orders to demolish 819 buildings owned by Rohingya Muslims, including 696 houses.”
The UN is also concerned about a “household survey” underway in areas where tens of thousands of Rohingya have fled military operations, according to the letter. The survey could mean that the displaced are struck from the official list of residents, leaving them unable to legally return home once the violence stops.
UN officials have confirmed the authenticity of the letter, which was signed by the UN’s senior advisor on Arakan State, Chris Carter.
In the letter, Carter called the demolitions and the survey “provocative”.
The demolitions and survey are taking place in northern Arakan State, where the military has been conducting “clearing operations” after a Rohingya insurgent group attacked border police posts on 9 October. Rohingya who fled over the border into Bangladesh have told journalists and rights groups that soldiers have committed widespread atrocities, including burning houses, as well as raping and killing civilians.
