MSF: 6,700 Rohingya massacred in Myanmar in one month
At least 6,700 Rohingya Muslims were killed in the month after the outbreak of violence in Myanmar in August, according to aid group Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF). The MSF claims this is "the clearest indication yet of the widespread violence" perpetrated by the Myanmar government. The official Myanmar figure for the deaths stands at 400. The government has blamed "terrorists" for the anti-Rohingya violence.
Rohingyas believed to be world's most persecuted minority
The Rohingyas are an ethnic Muslim group who constitute around one million of Myanmar's predominantly Buddhist 50 million population. They speak a Bengali dialect, mainly reside in the country's impoverished northern Rakhine state. Myanmar views them as illegal Bangladeshi immigrants and doesn't officially recognize them as its citizens, rendering them stateless. The Rohingyas have allegedly been subjected to human rights abuses by Myanmar.
At least 730 children were killed in Myanmar violence
According to MSF's "conservative estimations," at least 6,700 Rohingya were killed by violence from August 25 to September 24. This includes at least 730 children aged under five. On August 25, the Myanmar military launched a military crackdown after over 30 police posts were attacked by Rohingya ARSA militants. The brutal crackdown forced over 647,000 Rohingya to flee to neighboring Bangladesh.
MSF say the revelations by refugees about violence was "staggering"
"What we uncovered was staggering, both in terms of the numbers of people who reported a family member died as a result of violence, and the horrific ways in which they said they were killed or severely injured," said MSF Medical Director Sidney Wong.
Gunshots responsible for nearly 7 out of 10 dead Rohingya
The MSF survey has found that gunshots caused 69% of all violence-related deaths, a sign of the military's role in the killings. Around 9% of all victims were burnt to death in their homes while 5% were beaten to death. Of the 730 children aged under five killed, 59% were shot, 15% burnt to death, 7% beaten to death while landmine blasts killed 2%.
MSF says actual number of deaths could be even higher!
"The numbers of deaths are likely to be an underestimation as we have not surveyed all refugee settlements in Bangladesh and because the surveys don't account for the families who never made it out of Myanmar," MSF's Wong added.
Is a case in International Criminal Court against Myanmar possible?
Reports of the Myanmar military's abuse have raised the possibility that a case could be made for crimes against humanity in the International Criminal Court (ICC). However, Myanmar hasn't ratified the ICC's Rome Statute. A case against Myanmar would require the UN Security Council's five permanent members' approval. However, UNSC permanent member China has offered its full support to Myanmar on the Rohingya issue.
