The International Criminal Court (ICC) should launch an investigation into the massacre of Rohingya civilians by the Arakan Army (AA) in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, according to human rights organization Fortify Rights.
The group said that the ICC already has jurisdiction over crimes against the Rohingya, including forced displacement, and urged that the recent attacks by the AA be incorporated into the court’s ongoing investigation.
The call for an investigation follows an in-depth inquiry by Fortify Rights, which documented the AA’s drone and shelling attacks on August 5 and 6.
These attacks reportedly killed over 100 Rohingya civilians, including women and children, who were fleeing violence in Maungdaw Township along the Myanmar-Bangladesh border.
“There is no excuse for indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks on civilians. Arakan Army commanders found responsible for these attacks should be held criminally accountable,” said Matthew Smith, Chief Executive Officer of Fortify Rights.
Eyewitnesses described a scene of horror as the AA launched mortars and drones at thousands of Rohingya civilians gathered on the banks of the Naf River, trying to escape to Bangladesh.
Survivors reported that on August 5, AA forces fired on the civilians with drones, killing many on the spot. The next day, AA soldiers reportedly shot dozens more as they attempted to flee.
Fortify Rights’ investigation included interviews with 23 Rohingya survivors and the review of video and photographic evidence showing the aftermath of the attacks.
The organization also pointed out that since April, Rohingya civilians have faced ongoing violence from the AA as it battles Myanmar’s military junta in a nationwide conflict.
Rohingya militias, including the Rohingya Solidarity Organization (RSO), have reportedly aligned with the Myanmar military junta in recent months, a move that has further complicated the situation in northern Rakhine State.
Fortify Rights’ report indicated that the military junta and RSO coordinated their efforts against the AA in Maungdaw Township, raising concerns about the shifting alliances among Rohingya militant groups.
Despite these complex dynamics, Fortify Rights insists that the presence of armed Rohingya militants does not justify the AA’s attacks on civilians.
The organization urged the ICC to hold the AA accountable for the mass killings and called for a broader investigation into the ongoing atrocities in Myanmar.
“The same culture of impunity that led to the Rohingya genocide is now facilitating the AA’s deadly attacks,” said Smith.
“This attack had a transnational component, inspiring terror among Rohingya civilians and forcing another exodus to Bangladesh. It deserves a full investigation as an atrocity crime,” he added.
The ICC has had jurisdiction over the forced deportation of Rohingya to Bangladesh since 2018, following the genocide against the Rohingya in 2016 and 2017.
Fortify Rights stressed that the ICC’s mandate should be expanded to include the AA’s recent attacks as part of its ongoing investigation into crimes against humanity.
