Dear John

For decades the Burmese military has been oppressing the Rohingya. Now another army is doing the same.

Arakan State (renamed Rakhine State by the Burmese military) is on the west coast of Burma. It is almost twice the size of Wales.

Most people there are Arakanese, but people of many ethnicities and religions live there. It is where most Rohingya in Burma come from.

Following the military coup in 2021, the Arakha Army (formerly called the Arakan Army) (AA) has been fighting to free the state from Burmese military occupation. They have been incredibly successful, and have freed almost the entire state, making them heroes for many people in Burma.

But there is a problem. They behave the same way as the Burmese military.

For the Rohingya population in areas the AA controls, one oppressor has been replaced by another.

In July last year the United Nations Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar stated in an update to the UN General Assembly:

“During the reporting period, the Mechanism initiated investigations into crimes allegedly committed by members of the Arakan Army, in military or civilian attire. These included summary executions, torture and beheadings of military soldiers and civilians suspected of being military informants. In addition, the Mechanism continues to collect information on sexual violence, including rape, against Chin women.”

The United Nations, Rohingya civil society, and human rights organisations have documented horrific human rights violations committed by the AA in the past two years.

Documented crimes by the Arakha Army include massacres (in one instance they killed hundreds in a drone attack on fleeing civilians), mass detention, torture, beheadings, mass expulsion of people from homes and villages, looting, blocking people from work or gathering food, extortion, forced recruitment, aid restrictions, forced labour and burning people alive who were locked into their homes.

The AA have also taken over part of neighbouring Chin State, where there have been accusations they have committed rape, executions and abductions.

The Arakha Army isn’t just killing and oppressing people of different ethnicities and religions, it is also oppressing ethnic Arakanese people as well. People are afraid to publicly criticise the AA. They restrict access to the internet and have arrested a journalist for activities “going beyond the rules.”

The AA have also been breaking international law by executing captured Burmese Army soldiers, including by cutting their throats or burning them alive.

Despite multiple violations of international law, documented in numerous reports in the past two years, the British Foreign Office has failed to take any action, even though the British Home Office has stated that Rohingya are at real risk of harm and persecution by the AA.

For the leaders of the Arakha Army, being allowed to get away with numerous violations of international law with barely any criticism from the UK or other any governments, let alone face any consequences, just encourages them to believe they can do what they like and get away with it.

For the sake of the Rohingya and all the people in Arakan State and neighbouring areas, leaders of the Arakha Army cannot be allowed to continue to think of themselves as untouchable generals who are above the law.
Take action ([link removed])

Please email the British Foreign Secretary, Yvette Cooper, calling on her to: ([link removed])
* Sanction the Arakha Army and its leadership.
* Support international initiatives to ensure accountability and justice.
* Invite a UN human rights official to brief the UN Security Council about the Arakha Army and Burmese military’s ongoing human rights violations in Arakan State.

Thank you

Mark Farmaner

PS The British government downplayed what was happening and failed to act ahead of the Burmese military attacks against the Rohingya in 2016 and 2017. Now they are failing to act again. Lessons are not being learnt. Please email the Foreign Secretary today. ([link removed])
Take action ([link removed])
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