UN warns of new ‘war crimes’ in Rahkine state

Myanmar's apparent continued targeting of civilians in the country's Rakhine and Chin states could constitute new war crimes and crimes against humanity, the UN rights chief said yesterday.

Michelle Bachelet demanded action to remedy the serious rights violations suffered by Myanmar's Rohingya minority in particular.

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Military operations in 2017 forced some 750,000 Rohingya to flee from conflict-torn Rakhine state to Bangladesh in violence that now sees Myanmar facing genocide charges at the UN's top court.

Speaking at the opening of the 45th Human Rights Council in Geneva, Bachelet decried that the abuses against the Rohingya and other minorities in the country were ongoing.

"People from the Rakhine, Chin, Mro, Daignet and Rohingya communities are increasingly affected by the armed conflict in Rakhine and Chin States," Bachelet said.

She pointed to "disappearances and extra-judicial killings of civilians; massive civilian displacement; arbitrary arrests, torture and deaths in custody; and the destruction of civilian property."

"Civilian casualties have also been increasing. In some cases, they appear to have been targeted or attacked indiscriminately, which may constitute further war crimes or even crimes against humanity," she said.