Rights groups urge probe into new Myanmar abuses against Rohingya Muslims

Rights groups have called for an independent investigation into reports that Myanmar forces are killing, raping and torturing villagers in the restive Rakhine region, home to Rohingya Muslims.

Accounts of severe abuse by Myanmar troops - including sexual violence, summary executions and the torching of villages - have been widely reported on social media following a recent military raid in the state.

The reports are difficult to confirm since the East Asian country’s military does not allow rights organizations and journalists to visit the remote region bordering Bangladesh.

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch (HRW) joined calls for an impartial investigation into such allegations, which the United Nations has described as "alarming and unacceptable."

"If Myanmar's security forces are not involved in any human rights violations as the authorities claim, then they should have no trouble granting independent observers access," Amnesty's Rafendi Djamin said on Friday. 

Northern Rakhine has been under a military lockdown since an alleged attack on the country’s border guards three weeks ago left nine police officers dead.

The government has accused Rohingyas of waging the armed assault and an army search for the perpetrators has led to the killing of over 30 people and arrest of dozens more, according to official reports.

The government has claimed that the October 9 border raid was carried out by hundreds of Rohingya fighters linked to what it referred to as “Taliban-trained” militants.

On Friday, dozens of Rohingya women told the Reuters news agency that government forces had committed acts of rape or sexual assault against them.

SS