A/HRC/39/CRP.2 the 2012 violence and the post-October 2016 security operations. Arrests were random, not based on evidence or a warrant, often with male villagers arrested during a “sweep” of the village. For example, following the June 2012 violence, credible reports suggest that more than 1,000 persons were arrested and detained in northern Rakhine State 1269. Such mass arrests may constitute collective punishment of the Rohingya population. 609. These patterns are fully in line with reports of the Special Rapporteurs on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights 1270 and others, who have invariably expressed concern about the issue. Other reports also suggest that arbitrary arrest and detention has been a routine aspect of the life of the Rohingya throughout the period under review and prior. One detailed study published in 2010 stated, “The arbitrary detention of the Rohingyas is so prevalent as to be considered to have reached industrial levels”.1271 Another study of a third of village tracts in Maungdaw over a three month period in 2014 found an average of nearly 90 arrests per month. 1272 A second study in 2015 in northern Rakhine State found an average of approximately 330 arrests per month 1273. 610. A primary motivating factor of perpetrators is extortion. Nearly all such incidents corroborated by the Mission involved either the payment of bribes to secure release, or continued detention due to the non-payment of bribes1274. The practice was commonplace, implemented by the NaSaKa, the BGP, the Myanmar Police Force, the LaWaKa, SaYaPa (Military Intelligence) and the Tatmadaw. The amount of the bribes varied and sometimes forced villagers to borrow large sums from neighbours. The economic impact has been significant. One interviewee from Maungdaw Township stated: When my father was arrested, my mother used to pay the military to get him released. He would stay in detention for various lengths of time, depending on how fast my mother would pay. The amount would vary greatly, and my mother would borrow money from others to pay the bribe. Then, my father had to work to pay back this money. They would arrest him without giving any reason. When we asked why he was arrested, the response was that we were Muslims, we were “Kalar”.1275 611. In some instances the arrests were in relation to vague “offences”, including travel to Bangladesh, possessing a mobile phone or Bangladeshi SIM card, or the collection of firewood1276. One interviewee informed the Mission that his brother was detained for being in possession of a mobile phone. His family could not pay the bribe asked by the police and he remained in detention for seven months. 1277 It has also been suggested that persons who were more affluent were targeted, as they could pay higher bribes. 612. Arbitrary arrest and detention were frequently associated with torture and illtreatment.1278 One interviewee described how he was arbitrarily detained in 2011, seemingly in relation to his involvement in an appeal against the confiscation of the village graveyard by the NaSaKa. He was repeatedly beaten with a large wooden stick. 1279 Deaths in custody following arbitrary detention were also reported.1280 7. Other forms of oppression 613. Rohingya face several other forms of oppression at the hands of the Myanmar authorities, in particular the security forces. These include forced labour, confiscation of 1269 1270 1271 1272 1273 1274 1275 1276 1277 1278 1279 1280 144 K-076.46. For example, A/HR/32/18. Irish Centre for Human Rights, Crimes against Humanity in Western Burma: The Situation of the Rohingyas (2010). V-246. K-076. CI-064, CI-065, CI-082, CI-089, DI-009, DI-013, DI-020, DI-025, DI-054, DI-056. DI-009. CI-064, DI-025, DI-054. DI-054. CI-064, CI-065, CI-082, CI-089, DI-025, DI-056. CI-065. K-076.46; V-245.

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