Eight Countries Aid Rohingya Violence as HRW Slams Myanmar's 'Crimes against Humanity'

The international group also called on the United Nations to implement sanctions against the country an embargo on weapons deals with the Burmese state.

"The Burmese military is brutally expelling the Rohingya from northern Rakhine state," said James Ross, legal and policy director at Human Rights Watch.

"The massacres of villagers and mass arson driving people from their homes are all crimes against humanity," he added.

The International Criminal Court defines crimes against humanity as acts including murder, torture, rape and deportation "when committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack directed against any civilian population, with knowledge of the attack."

HRW claims that its researchers found crimes of deportation and forced population transfers, murder and attempted murder, rape and other sexual assault and persecution.

The Burmese government denies the claims and instead insists that it is fighting terrorist groups in Rakhine State.

 

One thing that is undisputed is the fact that violence against the Rohingya Muslim community is taking place and that violence is largely being perpetrated thanks to internationally-made weapons.

While the EU has operated an arms embargo against Myanmar since 1996, the Burmese state still has plenty of other countries, more than willing to sell weapons regardless of the consequences to the Rohingya minority.

As the violence has continued, rights groups are calling on the countries supplying Myanmar with arms to end the practice. 

So far, Israel is already battling pleas from rights groups to stop arms sales to Myanmar.

Responding to a petition in the Israeli High Court of Justice, Shosh Shmueli, representing the state, said the court should not interfere in Israel’s foreign relations.

Earlier this year the country’s Defense Ministry said that the matter was “purely diplomatic” and that the court had no jurisdiction over the issue.

However, Israel isn’t the only country selling arms to the Burmese regime.

In the years between 2011 and 2016, Myanmar also received weapons from China, Russia, Ukraine, India, France, Germany, and Belarus, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

China was among the most prolific suppliers and provided the Burmese regime with aircraft, Naval Guns, Missiles, and radar systems.

Russia also propped up the country’s military with helicopters, missiles, and weaponry. Much of this was sent as part of a $570million deal between the two countries.

India has also remained close ties with the Burmese government and Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, the commander-in-chief of Myanmar’s armed forces, embarked on an eight-day state visit to India in July.

Over the past three years, India has vastly increased arms sales to Myanmar, in a move which many believe is designed to counteract Chinese influence in the region.

The Indian state armed Myanmar with high-tech radar systems along with other weapons in recent years.

France and Germany delivered aircraft and engines to Myanmar despite an EU weapons blockade on trade between the countries.

Meanwhile, Belarus also sent aircraft vehicles to Myanmar, according to the latest information.

Ukraine provided the country’s military with aircraft fan equipment.

However, rights groups hope that a U.N. weapons embargo could stem the flow of weapons arriving on Burmese soil and into the hands of troops attacking the Rohingya minority.

“Global recognition that crimes against humanity are taking place should stir the U.N. and concerned governments to take action against the Burmese military to bring these crimes to an end,” Ross added.