Myanmar Army Reported Gang Raping Rohingya Women and Plundering Homes in Myaw Taung

RB News

December 7, 2016

Maungdaw, Arakan – The Myanmar army has been reported plundering 300 Rohingya shops and gang raping women, one of whom is said to have died as a result. 

On December 6th, 2016 the Myanmar military was reported plundering more than 300 Rohingya shops at random in Myaw Taung village tract in Northern Maungdaw Township, according to locals. 

They reported that the military has also burnt down several houses and killed many innocents since November 12th. 

On December 1st a group of 500 soldiers were reported entering the village and then forcing all of the women there from their homes. They were said to have sexually abused and beaten all of the women in the group. Locals say that at this time all of the gold and cash from the houses in the village were looted, as well as motorcycles, furniture and other valuables. 

On December 2nd and 3rd the military was reported bringing boats and villagers from the Na Ta La village of Pha Wet Chaung to Myaw Taung. They then reportedly looted the village again with the help of the Na Ta La villagers, who were also reported stealing Rohingya owned buffaloes, cows and goats and taking them back to Pha Wet Chaung. 

On December 4th at 6pm the soldiers were reported forcing more than 500 women and children to come out from their homes and gather at a school in the village. From this group the soldiers were said to have selected some of the women and then took them away in groups. 

The women were reportedly gang raped while they were taken away, and then returned to the school afterwards at around 11pm, when they were accompanied by a group of soldiers. After this the women and children were allowed to return to their homes. 

A 16 year old girl who was in one of the groups taken away and raped by the soldiers died on next day, December 5th, locals said. 

After six days of the military plundering the village, locals say there is no food left anywhere. They warn that the children in the village are now at serious risk of starvation.

Report contributed by MYARF.