London, 2 November 2012

The Rohingya of Myanmar have been subject to systematic, state sponsored attacks in Rakhine State, Myanmar, since June this year. The Equal Rights Trust (ERT) has been monitoring the situation and making recommendations since the outset of the violence. However, past recommendations made by ERT and other human rights organisations to the governments of Myanmar and Bangladesh and to the international community have not been adequately acted on. In October 2012, a new outbreak of more intense and widespread violence has begun. The nature and extent of this new violence together with mass evictions and forced relocation of Muslims by security forces has resulted in claims of ethnic cleansing being made by many advocacy groups. ERT is of the position that unless decisive action is taken, the violence is likely to continue and increase, and will have a devastating impact on the Rohingya and other Muslim communities of the country, destabilising Myanmar and having security and human rights repercussions throughout the region.

  They're one of the most persecuted minorities on earth. Descendants of Muslim merchants, the Rohingya settled in Burma centuries ago. But in 1982, a law took away their nationality as well as their rights to property, marriage and education. Now a dispute...

Summary of main findings: A total of 811 destroyed building structures were identified on the eastern edge of Kyaukpyucity, likely caused by arson attacks occurring less than 24 hours earlier on 24 October 2012. This area of near totaldestruction measures 14.4ha in...