Rohingya Villagers Who Spoke To Kofi Annan Commission Detained And Beaten

RB News 

December 3, 2016 

Maungdaw, Arakan – Rohingya men who spoke to the Kofi Annan Commission were reportedly detained afterwards. Women and children were reportedly beaten indiscriminately on the same day in Kyet Yoe Pyin village tract in northern Maungdaw Township. 

On the morning of December 3rd 2016, officials from Maungdaw Township came to Kyet Yoe Pyin village and were reported to have forced many villagers to leave or flee. 

At around 11:30am the delegation led by Kofi Annan arrived in the village. Some Rohingya men, women and children were able to meet and talk with them. While there were soldiers escorting the delegation other groups of soldiers were stationed through the village and some were waiting in the mountains of a nearby village. 

Once the delegation’s cars left the village soldiers in the village moved in and began arresting men in the village and beating women and children indiscriminately, according to a local villager. The villager said three of the village elders were detained at this time. 

While the soldiers were beating the women and children a villager ran to catch up to the delegation’s cars and was able to catch up to them near Ngan Chaung village. He reported the incident to a member of the Rakhine State Advisory Commission. A member of the Commission assured him that Commission will inform the authorities and that things would be stable. 

The detainees were released a few hours later. 

In the morning, the soldiers threatened and forced villagers to leave their homes by shooting their guns in the air at Dar Gyi Sar, Yay Khae Chaung Khwa Sone, Myaw Taung and Kyar Gaung Taung villagers, according to locals.