(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - The UN human rights chief in his written statement about the violence against Rohingya Muslims, said the bloc received "credible information" that eight Rohingya Muslims were killed in Du Chee Yar Tan village when they came under attack by local Rakhine Buddhists on January 9.
"I deplore the loss of life in Du Chee Yar Tan and call on the authorities to carry out a full, prompt and impartial investigation and ensure that victims and their families receive justice," said Pillay.
In another incident four days later, a police officer was killed by Rohingya people in the same village.
The village security forces and local Rakhine in turn killed at least 40 Rohingya Muslims, including women and children, said the statement.
"By responding to these incidents quickly and decisively, the government has an opportunity to show transparency and accountability, which will strengthen democracy and the rule of law in Myanmar," said Pillay, expressing sorrow for the attacks and the killings.
She also noted that ten people were under arrest in relation to the killings, adding that they have serious concerns over ill-treatment towards the detainees.
Fortify Rights, a non-profit human rights organization based in Southeast Asia and registered in Switzerland and the United States, announced on Thursday that at least 40 Rohingya Muslims are believed to have been killed in last week’s violence in Myanmar.
The group said that hundreds of Rohingya Muslims have been forcibly displaced and warned that the number of dead could be higher, but it was hard to gain information because of government restrictions.
Since violence erupted in Rakhine State in June 2012, hundreds have been killed, at least 145,000 Rohıngya Muslims have been displaced, tens of thousands are in desperate need of humanitarian aid with similar numbers having fled the country. A year-and-a-half after the initial violence, the displaced Rohingya in Rakhine State still lack adequate shelter, drinking water, sanitation and health care.
Rohingya Muslims are not recognized as Myanmar citizens under the 1982 Citizenship Law.
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