A/HRC/39/CRP.2 1112. Witnesses gave corroborating accounts of village administrators or other villagers being asked to supply the women to the military, sometimes in groups of up to 10 women in a night, with one being told that this was to “serve the nation”.2492 In Maung Hna Ma village, Maungdaw Township, a witness saw women and girls being taken to the bases of battalions Nos. 564 and 345. He stated that those who came back had been raped. 2493 Another witness recalled an announcement by megaphone in Chin Tha Mar, Buthidaung Township. It told young women to go to the military camp where they would be taught to sew and do handicrafts. Seven girls went and were never seen again. The witness did not know what happened to them.2494 Increased restrictions and oppression 1113. Rohingya had long suffered restrictions on their freedom of movement. This became more pronounced after 2012,2495 but in the post-October 2016 period Rohingya reported facing ever greater difficulties and restrictions in their movements. Even if a travel permit was issued, travelling between villages required passing through an increasing number of checkpoints, where Rohingya were increasingly exposed to threats, extortion and physical violence. For many it became very difficult, or impossible, to visit family, conduct business, or make a living.2496 Although many of the restrictions were already in place prior to October 2016, the Mission understands that, after this time, they were more strictly and violently enforced. 1114. One witness recounted his experience at a checkpoint in early August 2017 while travelling to another village tract to visit a family member. He was on his motorbike, together with his grandson, when they were stopped by Tatmadaw soldiers and taken to a nearby military camp. The soldiers forced the witness to shave off his beard and confiscated his motorbike keys, demanding 60,000 Kyat to get them back. He could not pay, so the soldiers beat both him and his grandson and took their phones. They were released only after the chairperson of their village identified them. The motorbike was not returned. 2497 1115. After 9 October 2016, the Tatmadaw declared the whole of the three townships an “operational area”.2498 The timings of the curfew was extended to 7pm to 6am following the 9 October attacks in Buthidaung and Maungdaw. It was shortened to 9pm until 5am in February 2017.2499 These curfews were strictly enforced, with villagers subject to arrest, physical violence, or more often extortion by local authorities and police. 2500 1116. One interviewee reported that, on 11 November 2016, the military arrested a large number of men who were praying in three different mosques in Pwint Hpyu Chaung village tract, Maungdaw Township, outside curfew hours.2501 As part of the imposition of the curfew, people were not allowed to light up their houses after dark. 2502 1117. Movement restrictions and the curfew meant many could not access markets in neighbouring ethnic Rakhine villages to buy and sell goods2503 or access paddy fields.2504 Interviewees described needing permission from the village administrator, which often involved payment.2505 Many could not buy food or medicine. 2492 2493 2494 2495 2496 2497 2498 2499 2500 2501 2502 2503 2504 2505 CI-145, LI-059, LI-117. LI-117. QI-063. See this chapter, section B.2: Denial of the right to freedom of movement. CI-112, LI-069, QI-051, QI-110, QI-111, YI-005. YI-023. V-211. V-047. CI-118, CI-134, CI-140, LI-066, LI-074, LI-104, QI-113, YI-021, YI-028. QI-104. LI-084, RI-005. CI-122, LI-053, LI-066, LI- 072, LI-084, LI-105, QI-067, WI-007, YI-019. LI-045, LI-053. LI-053, LI-105, QI-058, QI-059, QI-060, QI-067. 263