Dozens of rapes reported in northern Rakhine State

Dozens of Muslim women have allegedly been raped by state security forces in northern Rakhine State during counter-insurgency operations there, according to rights groups citing “credible” sources. Tight military controls in the region, including shutting out international humanitarian organisations, means independent verification has not been possible.

Around 30 women are reported to have been raped by security forces in a single village on October 19, according to Chris Lewa, director of the Arakan Project, a Rohingya rights organisation.

Ms Lewa said she had also received additional reports of five girls aged between 16 and 18 being raped in another village on October 25 and two women at another location on October 20.

On October 25, the Burma Human Rights Network (BHRN) released a statement saying it was “extremely concerned” over at least 10 alleged rape cases that had been documented by civilians in Maungdaw township since the military operation had begun there, including one woman who was three months pregnant and later suffered a miscarriage. (Courtesy of mmtimes.com)

11 Rohingya Feared Dead in Burmese Navy Shooting Rampage

At least 11 innocent people were killed in a Burmese Navy shooting rampage on two boats carrying Rohingya people on board in the Naff River around 1 AM today, a reliable source said.

It has been reported that the victims were fleeing from the continuous military assaults and extrajudicial killing of the innocent civilians in Maungdaw to Bangladesh. Most of the victims of the incident are from ‘Ye Twin Chaung (Raimma Bil) and Paung Zaa (Ashikka Fara)’ villages.

“During the shooting spree by the Navy, some people were hit by bullets and died. While some other people died drowning in the Naff River as they jumped off the boats. (Courtesy of rvisiontv.com)