UN Human Rights spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on Myanmar: Concerns over rising tensions in Rakhine state
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Edited News | OHCHR

UN Human Rights spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on Myanmar: Concerns over rising tensions in Rakhine state

Speaker: Jeremy Laurence 

Teleprompter
Wife can has all of the necessary small supplies, equipment, important work you and your agency are doing in Gaza.
Intensified fighting in Rakhine State between the military and the Arakan Army, alongside tensions being fuelled by the between the Rohingya and ethnic Rakhine communities, pose a grave ****** to the civilian population.
There is a grave risk that past atrocities will be repeated as a consequence of not having the care that they need.
Rakhine State has once again become a battleground involving multiple actors and civilians are paying a heavy price, with Rohingya at particular risk.
What is particularly disturbing is that whereas in 2017 the Rohingya were targeted by one group, they are now trapped between two armed factions who have a track record of killing them.
We must not allow the Rohingya to be targeted again between the two sides broke down last November 15 of Rakhine's 17.
Facing defeat, the military has outrageously started to forcibly conscript, bribe and coerce Rohingya into joining their ranks.
It is unconscionable that they should be targeted in this way given the appalling events of six years ago and the ongoing extreme discrimination against the Rohingya, including the denial of citizenship.
Some reports say the military is forcing the the Rohingya recruits all villages to burn ethnic Rakhine homes, buildings or villages.
Ethnic Rakhine villages have allegedly responded in kind by burning Rohingya villages.
The UN Human Rights office is trying to verify all reports received, a task that is being complicated by a communications blackout throughout the state.
That's an injuries displaced.
Disinformation and propaganda are also rife, exemplified by claims that Islamic terrorists have taken Hindus and Buddhists hostage.
This is the same kind of hateful narrative that fuelled communal violence back in 2012 and the horrendous attacks against the Rohingya in 2017.
Since the start of the year, the Arakan Army has positioned itself in and around Rohingya villages, effectively inviting military attacks on Rohingya civilians.
Military has outrageously started to forcibly conscript.
The alarm bells are ringing and we must not allow there to be a repeat of the past countries with influence on the Myanmar military and armed group.
Armed groups involved must act now to protect all civilians in Rakhine State and prevent another episode of horrendous persecution of the Rohingya.
300,000 Rakhine State has won.
Civilians are paying a heavy price with Rohingya killing them.
We must not allow the Rohingya within the The Rohingya recruits all villages.