• Burmese
Friday, July 18, 2025
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTER
The Irrawaddy
27 °c
Yangon
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Books
  • Donation
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Books
  • Donation
No Result
View All Result
The Irrawaddy
No Result
View All Result
Home News Burma

Burma Army Chief Persists in Denying Rights Abuses

Kyaw Phyo Tha by Kyaw Phyo Tha
December 7, 2016
in Burma
Reading Time: 2 mins read
0 0
A A
Burma Army troops patrol in Maungdaw on Oct 17. / Hein Htet / The Irrawaddy

Burma Army troops patrol in Maungdaw on Oct 17. / Hein Htet / The Irrawaddy

10.4k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

RANGOON — As international condemnation of alleged human rights abuses against the Rohingya minority in northern Arakan State mounts, the country’s military chief Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing has doubled down on his denials, saying on Monday that “Burmese security forces have not committed any human rights violations including extrajudicial killings, rapes, or arson.”

He told Malaysia’s General Tan Sri Dato’ Sri that “if any violations were discovered, the offenders would be prosecuted.” His discussion with his Malaysian counterpart in Naypyidaw came a day after Malaysia’s Prime Minister Najib Razak led a protest in Kuala Lumpur against what he called the “genocide” of Burma’s Muslim Rohingya minority.

Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing has become increasingly assertive on denials of Burma Army abuses during military “clearance operations” conducted in response to a series of attacks on border guard outposts in Maungdaw Township on Oct. 9. The government said that the attacks were carried out by Muslim militants who also looted firearms and ammunitions.
On Tuesday, when he met with Russia’s Ambassador to Burma, Dr. Nikolay Listopadov, Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing said that the Bengalis—the term used by the Burmese government to refer to the Rohingya—in Arakan State are not an ethnic group of Burma and have migrated to the country.

RelatedPosts

Bangladesh Vows to Break Rohingya Crime Gangs

Bangladesh Vows to Break Rohingya Crime Gangs

July 15, 2025
613
Two Myanmar Migrants Still Languish in Thai Jail Over Min Aung Hlaing Protest

Two Myanmar Migrants Still Languish in Thai Jail Over Min Aung Hlaing Protest

July 14, 2025
557
Parading Comedians and Machines for Election Circus; Rousing the Military Vote; and More

Parading Comedians and Machines for Election Circus; Rousing the Military Vote; and More

July 12, 2025
833

“[Rohingya] need to enter the national verification process in accordance with the Citizenship Law. The process must be in accordance with the law, not in the name of human rights. They need to follow and respect Burma’s existing laws,” he said.

On the same day, Burma’s military chief also met with the Arakan State Advisory Commission headed by former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and denied media accusations that the Burma Army committed murders, rapes and arson. “According to the reports on the ground, there were no murder or rape cases,” he said.

“But for arsons, there were cases in which they [Rohingya] themselves set fire to their homes. Some did so in hope of getting a new home,” he said, adding that the Burma Army previously built homes for displaced persons in conflict areas so it was “impossible for the Tatmadaw to have set fire to their houses.”

Access to Maungdaw for journalists has been restricted since the beginning of military operations so The Irrawaddy was unable to independently verify accusations of abuse.

David Mathieson of Human Rights Watch told The Irrawaddy that Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing should not offer a blanket denial of allegations of serious human rights violations during security operations, but should commit to investigating them.

“Without permitting access to media and investigators, these allegations will persist, and the longer the military denies access, the more it seems like buying time for a cover-up,” he said.

“The scale of destruction from satellite photos clearly shows that the counter-insurgency operation against militants had a brutal effect on the civilian population,” he added.

Your Thoughts …
Tags: Arakan StateBurma ArmyHuman Rights WatchMalaysiaMaungdawMin Aung HlaingRohingya
Kyaw Phyo Tha

Kyaw Phyo Tha

The Irrawaddy

Similar Picks:

As Myanmar’s Military Stumbles, a Top General’s Dissapearance Fuels Intrigue
Burma

As Myanmar’s Military Stumbles, a Top General’s Dissapearance Fuels Intrigue

by The Irrawaddy
April 19, 2024
47k

The junta’s No. 2 has not been seen in public since April 3, sparking rumors that he was either gravely...

Read moreDetails
Myanmar Coup Leader Showers Medals on Troops as String of Defeats Erodes Morale
Burma

Myanmar Coup Leader Showers Medals on Troops as String of Defeats Erodes Morale

by The Irrawaddy
December 8, 2023
32.9k

Min Aung Hlaing was trying to distract attention from a string of military defeats by handing out 147 medals for...

Read moreDetails
New Year Message From Myanmar: Dictator Shows he is Forever Falling Short
Analysis

New Year Message From Myanmar: Dictator Shows he is Forever Falling Short

by The Irrawaddy
January 3, 2024
24.9k

Min Aung Hlaing kept this year’s speech brief – just long enough to blame everyone for the disaster he created...

Read moreDetails
Junta Watch: Embattled Dictator Blames British; Thanks Myanmar Air Force for Propping Up Army; and More
Junta Watch

Junta Watch: Embattled Dictator Blames British; Thanks Myanmar Air Force for Propping Up Army; and More

by The Irrawaddy
December 23, 2023
18k

Also this week, the resistance offensive in northern Shan State gained more ground despite ‘morale-boosting’ missions by Min Aung Hlaing...

Read moreDetails
Post-Coup Myanmar is a Family Business: Min Aung Hlaing & Co
Burma

Post-Coup Myanmar is a Family Business: Min Aung Hlaing & Co

by David Aung
February 8, 2024
18k

Min Aung Hlaing is an opportunistic businessman in military uniform and his children are more mercenary than the offspring of...

Read moreDetails
Myanmar General Arrested for Retreating as Ethnic Alliance Overran Northern Shan State
Burma

Myanmar General Arrested for Retreating as Ethnic Alliance Overran Northern Shan State

by The Irrawaddy
March 11, 2024
17.6k

Brig-Gen Min Maung  was accused by junta boss Min Aung Hlaing of disobeying orders, according to sources.  

Read moreDetails
Load More
Next Post
Entrance gate to the Myitsone dam site in Kachin State, as seen in 2013. / Nyein Nyein / The Irrawaddy

Burma Rivers Network Calls for a Halt to Dam Projects in Conflict Areas

TNLA troops on the march in northern Shan State’s Kyaukme Township. / J Paing / The Irrawaddy

Shan State Parliament Approves Branding of Northern Alliance as ‘Terrorists’

No Result
View All Result

Recommended

What the ‘Snake Charmer’ Analogy Gets Wrong About Myanmar

What the ‘Snake Charmer’ Analogy Gets Wrong About Myanmar

3 days ago
1.3k
Myanmar Junta’s Recapture of Nawnghkio Shows Strategic Missteps by TNLA

Myanmar Junta’s Recapture of Nawnghkio Shows Strategic Missteps by TNLA

15 hours ago
736

Most Read

  • Rakhine Fighters Close In on Myanmar Junta’s Naval Base

    Rakhine Fighters Close In on Myanmar Junta’s Naval Base

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Indian Army Accused of Deadly Strike on Separatists in Myanmar

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Behind the Scenes: China’s Hand in Myanmar’s Election

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Myanmar Junta’s Recapture of Nawnghkio Shows Strategic Missteps by TNLA

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Myanmar Junta’s Power Transfer Looms, but Real Control to Remain With Regime Boss

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Newsletter

Get The Irrawaddy’s latest news, analyses and opinion pieces on Myanmar in your inbox.

Subscribe here for daily updates.

Contents

  • News
  • Politics
  • War Against the Junta
  • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
  • Conflicts In Numbers
  • Junta Crony
  • Ethnic Issues
  • Asia
  • World
  • Business
  • Economy
  • Election 2020
  • Elections in History
  • Cartoons
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Commentary
  • Guest Column
  • Analysis
  • Letters
  • In Person
  • Interview
  • Profile
  • Dateline
  • Specials
  • Myanmar Diary
  • Women & Gender
  • Places in History
  • On This Day
  • From the Archive
  • Myanmar & COVID-19
  • Intelligence
  • Myanmar-China Watch
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Food
  • Fashion & Design
  • Videos
  • Photos
  • Photo Essay
  • Donation

About The Irrawaddy

Founded in 1993 by a group of Myanmar journalists living in exile in Thailand, The Irrawaddy is a leading source of reliable news, information, and analysis on Burma/Myanmar and the Southeast Asian region. From its inception, The Irrawaddy has been an independent news media group, unaffiliated with any political party, organization or government. We believe that media must be free and independent and we strive to preserve press freedom.

  • Copyright
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Team
  • About Us
  • Careers
  • Contact
  • Burmese

© 2023 Irrawaddy Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Business Roundup
  • Books
  • Donation

© 2023 Irrawaddy Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.