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| 2017 Myanmar military operations in Rakhine State | |
|---|---|
| Title | 2017 Myanmar military operations in Rakhine State |
| Date | August–December 2017 |
| Location | Rakhine State, Myanmar |
| Sides | Tatmadaw; Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army; local Rakhine people; Rohingya communities |
| Commanders and leaders | Min Aung Hlaing; Aung San Suu Kyi (political leadership); alleged ARSA leaders |
| Casualties and losses | thousands killed (disputed); hundreds of security forces casualties; >700,000 displaced |
| Outcome | Mass displacement; international condemnation; ongoing conflict and legal actions |
2017 Myanmar military operations in Rakhine State The 2017 Myanmar military operations in Rakhine State were a series of large-scale counterinsurgency campaigns conducted by the Tatmadaw in response to attacks by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) during August 2017 and subsequent months. The operations precipitated a humanitarian crisis, prompting mass displacement of the Rohingya population, widespread international scrutiny involving institutions such as the United Nations and the International Criminal Court, and significant political repercussions for figures including Aung San Suu Kyi and Min Aung Hlaing.
Tensions in Rakhine State had escalated following the 2012 communal riots between Rohingya Muslims and Rakhine people, and the longstanding statelessness of the Rohingya after the enactment of the 1982 Burmese nationality law. Insurgent activity increased with the emergence of groups like Arakan Army and ARSA, which claimed to resist discrimination and persecution. The 2016 ARSA attacks on border posts raised security concerns that culminated in the August 2017 raids on multiple Border Guard Police outposts, prompting a substantial military response under the leadership of Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing and political oversight by State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi.
In early August 2017 ARSA carried out coordinated attacks on Border Guard Police posts in Maungdaw District and adjacent townships, leading to the deaths and seizure of weapons. On 25 August ARSA launched larger assaults, after which the Tatmadaw initiated clearance operations across Maungdaw, Buthidaung, and Rathedaung townships. Over the following weeks security forces conducted cordon-and-search missions, air and ground patrols, and demolition of perceived insurgent infrastructure. By September and October operations expanded into camps and villages, with reported battles, mass arrests, and burns in localities such as Inn Din and Tula Toli. International observers documented sustained operations through December 2017, while intermittent clashes with elements of the Arakan Army and ARSA persisted into subsequent years.
The operations triggered an exodus of Rohingya civilians chiefly to Bangladesh, where refugees assembled in camps including Cox's Bazar and Kutupalong refugee camp. By late 2017 estimates from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees indicated over 600,000 displaced; subsequent counts exceeded 700,000. Displacements intensified preexisting vulnerabilities linked to the 1982 Burmese nationality law, restrictions like the Muslim-free zone allegations, and limited humanitarian access coordinated with agencies such as UNICEF, World Food Programme, and International Committee of the Red Cross. Host country responses involved coordination with Bangladesh authorities including the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (Bangladesh), while internal IDP sites in Rakhine State remained restricted for access by UN agencies and International Non-Governmental Organizations.
Numerous reports by Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and UN fact-finding missions accused security forces and associated actors of grave abuses, including killings, sexual violence, unlawful detention, and arson targeting Rohingya villages. The UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar characterized actions as indicative of possible genocide and crimes against humanity, citing command responsibility under the Rome Statute framework. The Myanmar authorities established domestic mechanisms including the Independent Commission of Enquiry (Myanmar) to investigate allegations, while the Tatmadaw denied systematic wrongdoing and asserted counterterrorism justifications. Eyewitness testimony, satellite imagery, and forensic evidence formed parts of parallel international investigations.
Global reactions spanned condemnations from United States Department of State, the European Union, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to calls for accountability by the United Nations Security Council, where diplomatic dynamics involved actors such as China and Russia opposing referrals to the International Criminal Court. Humanitarian appeals were mobilized by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and donor conferences convened by Bangladesh and international partners. Several states imposed targeted measures against Tatmadaw officials, including sanctions by the United States and travel restrictions suggested by members of the European Union. Debates in multilateral fora encompassed proposals for independent investigations, repatriation plans with the Government of Bangladesh, and discussions at the International Court of Justice regarding provisional measures.
Domestically the operations affected the standing of State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and civilian authorities, heightening tensions between the National League for Democracy leadership and the Tatmadaw command. The Tatmadaw reaffirmed security prerogatives in Rakhine State, while insurgent dynamics evolved with groups like the Arakan Army expanding operations in northern Rakhine and Kachin State linkages. Repatriation agreements brokered with Bangladesh faltered amid verification disputes over citizenship and safety guarantees complicated by the 1982 Burmese nationality law and administrative documentation issues.
The Gambia brought proceedings against Myanmar at the International Court of Justice alleging violations of the Genocide Convention, leading to hearings and the issuance of provisional measures. The ICC Office of the Prosecutor opened preliminary examinations into alleged deportation crimes, focusing on cross-border forcible transfer into Bangladesh. Domestic litigation and civil suits were pursued by survivors and advocacy groups in jurisdictions invoking universal jurisdiction. Concurrently, UN initiatives sought comprehensive accountability through documentation by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and referrals to international criminal bodies, while the prospects for prosecutions faced challenges of access, evidentiary collection, and geopolitical impediments.
Category:2017 in Myanmar Category:Rakhine State Category:Human rights in Myanmar