Jonathan

Narinjara News, 24 May 2024

The United States has expressed deep concern over thereports of escalating violence and inter-communal tensions in Arakan State ofMyanmar, including incidents of towns being burnt and residents displaced.

The US Department of State's statement on 21 Mayaddressed the situation in the western province of Myanmar, also known asRakhine State.

These developments follow concerning reports of forcedconscription of Rohingyas along with the spread of disinformation,misinformation and hate speech, mentioned in the statement.

The military junta's previous acts of genocide andother crimes against humanity targeting Rohingyas, in addition to its historyof stoking inter-communal tensions in Arakan State and elsewhere across thecountry, underscore the grave dangers to civilians.

The recent increased violence and inter-communaltensions raise the risks of further atrocities on civilians.

The statement calls on Myanmar's military rulers, aswell as all armed actors, to protect civilian populations and allow forunhindered humanitarian access. 

It also urged the international partners to condemnthe heightened violence, hold perpetrators of human rights abuses accountableand offer protection to those fleeing violence to prevent further atrocities.

The US remains committed to promote justice forvictims and survivors, as well as to holding accountable those responsible foratrocities, and will impose costs on the military and other armed actors, whocommit abuses, asserted the statement.