April 1, 2017
Maungdaw- Three Rohingya women will be allowed to file rape charges against Tatmadaw personal who raped them, according to a state government official.
On Friday, Ye Htut, Maungdaw’s district administrator said village administrators and community leaders will aid the three women in filing the rape allegations.
The women are from the destroyed village tract of Ra Bai La. The village, along with the neighbouring settlements of Sa Li Frang, Bor Gazi Bil and Sau Ra Gazi Bil was attacked with helicopter gunships and rocket launchers resulting in the deaths of hundreds in mid November. In the aftermath, soldiers moved into the area and committed horrific abuses including throwing infant children into fire and raping women by the dozens.
At present there are four internal commissions investigating atrocities by security forces during the crackdown. Independent observers have criticised them as an eyewash initiative by the government in face of unprecedented international pressure.
Investigation officials have repeatedly dismissed accounts of atrocities committed by security forces. Only three cases have been filed from Bura Shida Para.
The three women had earlier told the media on Thursday that they will be willing to file rape cases against the Tatmadaw personal.
Irrawaddy reports that two of the women said there were no men in their village on the day in question and that they, along with another women, were taken by four or five soldiers to a vacant house and raped.
One of the women raped was pregnant.
The women had filed their complaints in the Nga Khura police station.
