Special Correspondent :
Satellite data show widespread fires at least 10 areas in the Rakhine state of Myanmar, following a military crackdown on the country’s Muslim Rohingya population.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) accessed the data on Tuesday.
Residents and activists have accused soldiers of shooting indiscriminately at unarmed Rohingya men, women and children and carrying out arson attacks.
However, authorities in Myanmar say that about 100 people have been killed since Friday when armed men, reportedly from the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), launched a pre-dawn raid on police outposts in the restive region.
Myanmar authorities say Rohingya “extremist terrorists” have been fighting with government troops, while Rohingya have blamed soldiers, have for carrying out extra judicial killings.
“The Burmese government should grant access to independent monitors to determine the sources of fires and prove allegations of human rights violations,” the Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a statement on Tuesday.
HRW said fires have razed 100km of land – an area larger than that burned during a crackdown by the Myanmar military following attacks by Rohingya fighters in October 2016, when data from the group suggested some 1,500 buildings were destroyed.
The locations of the fires correlate with some witness statements and media reports describing blazes deliberately set, the group said.
“This new satellite data should cause concern and prompt action by donors and UN agencies to urge the Burmese government to reveal the extent of ongoing destruction in Rakhine State,” Phil Robertson, HRW’s Deputy Asia Director, said in a statement.
“Shuffling all the blame on insurgents doesn’t spare the Burmese (Myanmar) government from its international obligations to stop abuses and investigate alleged violations.”
