REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, LONDON -- Burma Human Rights Network (BHRN) said civilian safety must be guaranteed in counter-insurgency operations. With the most recent attacks, BHRN predicted the military will respond harshly and may not differentiate between civilians and combatants.

Without proper and immediate intervention, the situation may easily spiral out of control as violence is further normalized in the region causing attacks to increase between the army and militants. Therefore, BHRN calls on the military to use restraint when engaging in combat and avoid civilians at all costs.

Likewise BHRN called on the militant group Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) to avoid fighting in civilian areas at any time.

BHRN also urged International Communities to take any allegations coming from this conflict seriously and not allow the situation to further deteriorate as it has for the past year.

"With this in mind we reiterate our call on Myanmar to accept the UN mandated Fact Finding Mission into allegations from last years fighting in order to address grievances of the local population and pursue peace and justice in the region. Any human rights violations emerging from this conflict will ultimately prolong it and potentially create an environment of constant violence that erodes the perceived value of human life both in combat and in communal interactions," said BHRN in a press release received by Republika.co.id, Monday, (September 4).

BHRN called on security forces to respect the principles of proportionality and distinction with regard to the use of force in counter-insurgency operations in accordance with International Humanitarian Law.

"In restoring law and order, International Law and human rights must be kept as a priority to ensure that this restoration is meaningful, just and avoids worsening tensions in an already fragmented and volatile region," BHRN said.

Also read: Indonesia, ASEAN get access to provide humanitarian assistance in Rakhine

Tension escalates

At around 1:20 AM, 25 August 2017, civilians in Maungdaw reported to a loud explosion to Burma Human Right Network (BHRN) which was followed by gunfire to the north of Maungdaw.

Within a few hours civilians reported hearing gunfire again. Reports quickly emerged of fighting between the militant group Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) and the Burmese Military.

Reports emerged that ARSA ambushed up to 25 security posts in Maungdaw, Buthidaung and Rathedaung. Estimates from Government sources say that 21 militants, 10 police and one soldier were killed, but totals are suspected to be higher.

Myanmar Government claimed that the attacks were carried out by over a thousand men organized and acting in different locations simultaneously. Reports to BHRN indicate many Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh took part in the fighting.

It has been relayed to BHRN that many of the refugees who fled last years fighting between ARSA and the Burmese Army were recruited and trained since winter of last year. ARSA has claimed responsibility for initiating the attacks in response to the blockade on Rathedaung, recent killings of Rohingya by security forces and increased troop presence in northern Rakhine State.

These events follow a series of alleged human rights abuses in the past month and a large troop increase in the region.

Locals have complained of massive sweeping arrests, deaths in custody and blockade of food and aid to civilians.

After a month of tension militants unexpectedly attacked, which will undoubtedly make the situation far worse and appears to be motivated in part by desperation and anger with recent events.

At the same time the state has been visited by extremist monks, including Wirathu, who have provoked greater fears and hostility in the region.

Wirathu visited the state on the 20th of August. These events happening at the same time risk communal conflict to emerge at the same time militants are fighting the army.

Wirathu is notoriously anti-Muslim and has frequently given sermons in areas that saw anti-Muslim violence shortly afterwards.

The attacks occurred one day after the release of the Kofi Annan led Rakhine Commission's report detailing their investigation and recommendations of a similar situation last year where militants attacked three police posts and the military engaged in an especially brutal crackdown over the following months.

Throughout August BHRN received multiple reports of escalating tensions between the Rohingya and Rakhine communities as well as security forces in Northern Rakhine State. These incidents included arrests of several Rohingya men in Rathedaung and the disappearance of a Rakhine man in late July near Rauthedaung.

The Rakhine man is said to be from Chutpyin village and was last seen on a snail gathering expedition with two other men in the Mayyu Mountains. The arrests seemed related to the disappearance of the local Rakhine man, after search efforts failed to locate him.

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