A/HRC/39/CRP.2 place in these locations. Threats were made regarding the continued refusal of the NVCs at these meetings.2544 1132. One significant meeting was held on 22 August 2017, convened by members of the 33rd LID at the school located in the Rakhine hamlet of Chut Pyin. During the meeting, leaders of the 33rd LID threatened the Rohingya elders in attendance, including elders from Chut Pyin as well as from other nearby villages. 2545 A commander of the 33rd LID, whose name is on file with the Mission2546, explained that together with his Division he had recently been deployed from Kachin State. He stated that Rohingya must accept the NVC, or else they would be killed, as had happened to villagers in northern Myanmar.2547 The meeting was also attended by the Rakhine chairman of Chut Pyin. 2548 Following the meeting, village leaders discussed the proposal, but eventually reported back that they would not accept the NVC. 2549 After this, villagers were reportedly confined to their homes and oppression increased further.2550 1133. Immediately preceding the 25 August 2017 attacks, the ethnic Rakhine chairman of Min Gyi had organized a meeting during which he made a speech instructing Rohingya to take the cards2551 or they “would not be allowed to stay in Myanmar”. 2552 One interviewee from Min Gyi (Tula Toli) described: There were meetings where we were told, “You must accept the NVCs”. We always refused. This pressure was for a year but the worst incident was two or three months ago [prior to August 2017 violence] when the chairman came with the military, who were armed, and told us to take the cards with guns pointed at us. We refused.2553 Rising tension in northern Rakhine State 1134. After October 2016, the State Counsellor’s Information Committee, State media, and other national media increased the focus on ARSA activities, with increased monitoring and reporting. The inflammatory nature of much of this reporting, often characterizing Rohingya as “Bengali terrorists”, coupled with rising vitriolic discourse and hate speech against the Rohingya, fuelled an already volatile situation. 2554 1135. These reports, which had regional and national prominence, contributed to a fear among non-Rohingya communities in Rakhine State of alleged terrorist activities. They deepened inter-communal suspicion and fear. They were likely a factor in a notable breakdown in the relationship between the communities, particularly in the weeks leading up to 25 August 2017. 1136. Between May and July 2017, media sources reported a number of alleged ARSA activities, including reports on the killing of Rohingya informants by ARSA, 2555 and an accidental explosion during a training course, killing seven individuals, 2556 including two “foreigners”. The media also reported the discovery of alleged ARSA training camps in different locations, where materials for making explosives and other weapons were 2544 2545 2546 2547 2548 2549 2550 2551 2552 2553 2554 2555 2556 QI-058, V-076. CI-185, CI-186, CI-191, LM-006, LM-012, K-155, V-067, V-076. CI-186, CI-191, LM-006, V-067, V-076, K-155. CI-177, CI-185, CI-186, CI-191, RI-001, LM-006, LM-012, LM-018, K-155, V-067, V-076. CI-186, RI-004. CI-185, CI-191. LM-006, V-076. QI-058, QI-060, QI-066, QI-067, WI-037, V-073. QI-060. QI-058; See this chapter, section D.1.a: Most serious incidents. See chapter VI, section B.2: The issue of “hate speech”: Findings. Global New Light of Myanmar, “Rakhine slayings by insurgents” (22 July 2017). V-094, V-216; Global New Light of Myanmar, “Five bodies unearthed near 5 May explosion site in Buthidaung” (16 May 2017). 267