Myanmar: Violent protests over aid shipments to Rohingya minority September 20

Event

On Wednesday, September 20, over 300 protesters reportedly clashed with security forces in an attempt to block aid shipments to the Muslim Rohingya minority in Sittwe, Rakhine state. According to local sources, the protesters attempted to seize food shipments from a boat operated by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on its way to the town of Maungdaw. Protesters reportedly threw petrol bombs before police dispersed them by firing into the air. An unspecified number of police officers were injured and eight protesters were detained.

Context

Over 400,000 Rohingya Muslims are believed to have fled Myanmar to Bangladesh since August 25 following a crackdown by Myanmar's army on the Rohingya community. The influx of refugees is creating a humanitarian crisis, as aid agencies in southeastern Bangladesh are struggling to accommodate all the refugees. On Sunday, September 10, the government of Myanmar rejected ceasefire appeals by Rohingya militants.

The persecution of the Rohingya people in Myanmar has drawn international criticism for alleged human rights violations, including what the United Nations has denounced as "ethnic cleansing." The current clashes and ensuing government crackdown are the result of months of simmering violence and ethnic tensions between the Buddhist majority and Rohingya Muslim minority in Myanmar.

Advice

Individuals present in Myanmar are advised to remain vigilant and to adhere by all instructions issued by authorities. Due to poor security conditions, some Western governments and Myanmar authorities advise their citizens against nonessential travel to Rakhine state - with the exception of the southern townships of Kyaukpyu, Ramree, Munaung, Toungup, Thandwe (including the tourist resort of Ngapali), and Gwa - and the Bangladeshi border.