November 16, 2016
Security forces believed to be Navy personal opened fire at refugees fleeing to Bangladesh, killing at least seven people. The incident took place in the Naaf river on Tuesday night at around 9pm.
It is not known if the victims died from gunfire or drowned after their boat capsized in the sea.
Last week, at least five members from two families, all of them women and children drowned after security forces fired on their boat. Some sources say the killing of escaping refugees have become a regular affair but cannot be monitored as there are no eyewitnesses or survivors left to relate the accounts.
This incident has been narrated by passengers from an adjoining boat that escaped the security forces on the Naaf river.
Since the start of ongoing crackdown, the Tatmadaw had targeted Rohingyas on the Naaf river who are trying to cross into Bangladesh territory. This is in stark contrast to previous incidents when the security forces were more inclined to let Rohingyas flee in to Bangladesh.
Sources say Bangladesh and Myanmar have been more cooperative in stemming the tide of escaping Rohingyas as the neighbouring country strongly backs the ongoing crackdown and has pledged cooperation to hunt Muslim rebels.
By contrast in recent years there has been an increasing support for the Rohingyas from the general populace of Bangladesh.
86 refugees sent back by Bangladesh
Meanwhile Bangladesh media have reported 86 Rohingyas were handed back to Myanmar on Tuesday after they had ‘intruded’ in to the country’s territory. They claim to be residents from Akyab township. This seems to be a rather surprising development as the recent trouble has focused in Maungdaw and there is very little chance for Akyab residents to cross into Bangladesh territory from this region at this troubled time.
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