Myanmar military reported to be shelling villages in Rakhine State

Amnesty International reported Monday that the Myanmar Army has bombed villages and cut off access to food and humanitarian assistance while targeting rebels in the Rakhine State.

“Security forces have also used vague and repressive laws to detain civilians in the area.” The crackdown began on January 4 when the Arakan Army rebels raided police stations and killed 13 officers. Fighting and brutality has spiralled throughout the last month:

Myanmar’s civilian government instructed the military to launch an operation to “crush” the Arakan Army, which the government spokesperson referred to as a “terrorist organization.” The military has since moved considerable assets and troops into the region, which local activists and media reports have said include soldiers from the 99th Light Infantry Division (LID). Amnesty International and others implicated that division in atrocities against the Rohingya in 2017 and against ethnic minorities in northern Shan State in 2016.

As of January 28, more than 5,200 civilians were displaced due to the ongoing fighting.

Source: Jurist