Arakan News Agency
The Myanmar Armed Forces has released a video filmed in Sittwe, the capital of Arakan State, showing Rohingya men and women denying allegations of genocide and other serious abuses by the military, a move that has drawn criticism from human rights observers.
According to Arakan Now, the footage shows Rohingya individuals claiming that the military did not harm civilians, attributing the violence instead to the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), and repeating official statements that the army conducted only “clearance operations” and treated Rohingya communities well.
In one segment, a voice believed to be that of a military official asks, “Did we do that to you?” The Rohingya individuals respond, “No, you didn’t.” Rights activists say such exchanges indicate coercion and cannot be considered voluntary or free testimony.
Rohingya community leaders noted that similar videos have been released previously during periods of heightened international scrutiny, arguing that such recordings are used to deny well-documented abuses and shift responsibility away from the military.
Human rights organizations emphasize that independent investigations, survivor accounts, and international reports have repeatedly documented killings, forced displacement, and other serious violations against Rohingya in Arakan State.
They stress that videos produced under military control cannot be treated as credible evidence.
Observers warn that the release of the video appears aimed at shaping public opinion while international pressure on Myanmar continues, at a time when Rohingya civilians remain without protection or access to justice.
These developments coincide with ongoing hearings at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, where the court is considering cases alleging genocide against the Rohingya in Myanmar.
The ICJ is currently hearing direct testimonies from survivors and witnesses, in one of the most significant international legal efforts to hold accountable those responsible for the grave violations committed in Arakan State since 2017.
