A/HRC/39/CRP.2 explosion on or near a bridge in the vicinity. 1809 The following days saw a significant buildup of security force personnel at the police camp. A large number of Tatmadaw soldiers were seen arriving at the camp, some on motorcycles. 1810 One interviewee saw white sacks being transported to the camp on the motorcycles.1811 There may also have been a meeting at around this time between the soldiers and Rohingya village leaders. 1812 Information suggests that some local ethnic Rakhine villagers warned Rohingya neighbours that something would happen, urging them to leave.1813 820. The Tatmadaw and police conducted an initial operation on around 28 August 2017. Security forces entered the main village of Gu Dar Pyin in the early morning and opened fire from the side of the main road.1814 It is unclear whether people were killed; one interviewee mentioned that two people might have sustained bullet injuries.1815 The gunfire caused panic among village residents, who fled. For many, this meant crossing the river running down the eastern edge of the village. One interviewee described how she fled with her children into the forest and then had to cross the river: “Some children died trying to cross the river, as it was raining and the water level was so high.” 1816 The operation ended in the early hours of the morning, with the security forces returning to the police camp. A number of villagers returned to their homes. 821. The main “clearance operation” took place the following day, in the early afternoon.1817 The Tatmadaw led the operation, accompanied by armed police and nonuniformed individuals, identified as ethnic Rakhine. According to one interviewee, the security forces first gathered on a hill above the village. They then surrounded the village and entered from multiple directions. The soldiers and armed police opened fire as they entered, including at people who ran to escape. A large number of Rohingya villagers were shot and killed or injured as they tried to flee, including children. One interviewee described how his cousin, a 15-year old boy, was shot dead while trying to untether his family’s cows.1818 Ethnic Rakhine men, armed with local swords known as “da”, then killed captured or injured persons by slitting their throats.1819 The soldiers and armed police also used knives to kill people captured or injured. 822. During the operation, buildings were set on fire by the security forces and ethnic Rakhine men. The Tatmadaw used “launchers” and the ethnic Rakhine used petrol.1820 Burning the entire village took two to three days. 823. One woman watching from a neighbouring village on the other side of the river described what she saw: The soldiers were shooting at the people, who were running from burning houses to save their lives. People were running everywhere, in the paddy fields, jumping into the river, and hiding in trees. I saw people burning, and people being cut.1821 824. As the security forces had entered the village from three sides, villagers able to flee were forced to head east and attempt to cross the river. Rohingya villagers were shot as they crossed. One interviewee, watching from a hamlet on the other side of the river, described seeing many bodies floating in the water.1822 Some drowned in the river, including women 1809 1810 1811 1812 1813 1814 1815 1816 1817 1818 1819 1820 1821 1822 LM-004, V-067. CI-103, LI-062, LI-063. LI-063. CI-103, YI-013. LI-065. CI-103, LI-062, LI-063, LI-088, YI-013, YI-014, YI-015, YI-016, YI-018. LI-062. YI-015. LI-062, LI-063, LI-064, LI-065, LI-088, YI-014, YI-017. YI-015. LI-065, LI-062, YI-014, V-080. LI-062, LI-063, YI-014, YI-015, YI-016, YI-018. WI-014. LI-088. 193