A spokesperson for Myanmar’s military government has denied accusations of a massacre in a village in Rakhine state. The Arakan Army, an ethnic armed organization, claimed that 76 people were killed when army troops entered Byine Phyu village. The Arakan Army, seeking autonomy for the Buddhist Rakhine minority, has been on the offensive against army outposts in Rakhine since last year. However, it has also been accused of human rights violations, including forcing residents to flee and then setting fire to buildings in Buthidaung.
The incident in Byine Phyu village has been disputed, with the military claiming they were looking for Arakan Army members and detained suspects, while the Arakan Army said soldiers, along with local allies, arrested everyone in the village and killed 76 people. The UN human rights office has warned of new violence in Rakhine, raising fears of persecution against the Muslim Rohingya minority, who have faced similar violence in the past.
The Rohingya have been targets of violence and denial of citizenship in Myanmar, with many in the Buddhist majority viewing them as illegal immigrants. The recent events in Rakhine have sparked concerns that the Rohingya may face further persecution. With conflicting claims and restrictions on travel in the region, verifying details of such incidents has been challenging. The situation in Rakhine remains volatile, with ongoing clashes between pro-democracy guerrillas, ethnic armed forces, and the military government.
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