October 16, 2016
More details are emerging about the gruesome family massacre carried out by the Tatmadaw in Keyari parang, Maungdaw North.
On Friday, at around 4pm, the military entered the village and killed at least six women and children from the same family. Three other women who were in their company were kidnapped and taken to an unknown location.
The village tract was burned and looted earlier on Thursday and at least two were killed on Wednesday. So when the military approached the area on Friday afternoon, everyone ran away. However, the female members of one family stayed behind as one of the women had just given birth at around 2pm.
The military finding the women, opened fire on five of them. They then drove their bayonet in the vagina and stomach of the women. Witnesses who found the mutilated corpses of five of the family members in the evening after the military had left suggested the women might still have been alive when the military used the bayonets. The new born child was also mutilated with the bayonet, report witnesses. One of the woman still had life left in her, but she would succumb to her injuries the next day.
The deceased has been identified Rokimun Nisa, 57 and her two daughters Monowara, 26, Nayeema, 22, her grandson Yusuf, 7,and Solim, 12. Yusuf and Solim are the sons of a man named Elias, who is also the son and brother of the deceased women. The new born baby who had been bayonetted to death did not have a name. Both the children and the women were tortured with bayonets. Nayeema was the one who survived till the next day.
Three other women who were with this group was picked up by the military and taken to an unknown location. Their identities could not be known and it is not confirmed whether they are part of the same family or had stayed behind to assist in the childbirth. Their fate is unknown but it is likely they will be raped in military custody.
It is alleged the security forces of the country are involved in the systematic rape of women from minority communities.
One source has claimed a three year sister of Yusuf has also been killed, but the claim cannot be confirmed.
Villagers were making preparations for the funeral of the deceased when the military struck again on Saturday morning. Since then, the military has taken up positions in the vicinity making it impossible for locals to go back.
