Arakan News Agency
A delegation of senior diplomats from the United States, China, Britain and the European Union has visit Myanmar’s troubled northern Arakan State, which has been cut off to aid workers and observers for more than three weeks, also there are reports of Rohingya population has been facing indiscriminate killings, looting, burning of villages and raping women in the hands of Myanmar Army, sources said.
The delegation consists of diplomats, and the top United Nations representative in Myanmar, They set off for Maungdaw on Wednesday morning later they will be visiting Rohingya villages and have talks with Rohingya populations.
A local Rohingya said “A lot of delegations came to Arakan earlier too with no significant result, as Myanmar authorities visits the areas before the delegations and threatens the Rohingya populations about not revealing their situation or meeting the delegation because if they do so, they will suffer even more. Its has always been like this, sometimes they bring local Hindus to lie and tell the delegations that they’re Rohingyas and say everything is fine, when nothing is fine here and we won’t survive here like this. ”
Arakan News Agency correspondent reported that Myanmar army also threatened Rohingya villagers of NgaSarKyu (Naasha Furu), PyaungPaik (Haant Gojja Fara), OoShyeKya (Bura Shiddha Fara) not to meet with the delegation team since yesterday evening.
Over two days, the officials will visit Maungdaw by helicopter from the state capital Sittwe, However, officials expressed skepticism that the high-level diplomatic mission will address the concerns raised by the international community.
In the two day tour of the delegation, they will visit a number of Rohingya villages those have faced violence in recent crackdown. The villages are Chi Kan Pyin, Waback, Zin Paing Yaan, Kway Ta Pyin, Chin Chaung, Pyaung Pyke, Nga Sar Kyu, Lake Iaem, Do Dan, Nga Khu Ra, Allay Than Chaw, Kaing Gyi, Zaw Ma Tat and Chya Ro Pyin in Maungdaw township, on the second day the delegation planned on visiting a village in Rathidaung township area that is Ko Tan Kawk.
Troops have poured into the area since militants believed to be Rohingya Muslims launched coordinated attacks on border posts on Oct. 9, killing nine police officers. The government says five soldiers and at least 33 alleged attackers have been killed in the area.
Residents and human rights advocates have said government forces have committed abuses including summary executions, rape and setting fire to homes.
The government of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi has denied any abuses have been committed.
United Nations experts have publicly called for the government to investigate allegations of human rights abuses.
Diplomats have also pressured the Myanmar government to allow humanitarian aid, including World Food Programme assistance and mobile clinics, to be restored.
