A/HRC/39/CRP.2 mines were placed in border areas as part of a deliberate and planned strategy of dissuading Rohingya refugees from attempting to return to Myanmar. Construction of the border fence 1215. The construction of a significantly more robust fence along the Bangladeshi border is a further indication of an official plan to prevent, or significantly control, the return of Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh. This strengthening of border fencing commenced in early September 2017, with the Commander-in-Chief, Min Aung Hlaing, making public statements confirming the construction at that time.2763 Sharpened sticks have been placed in the ground, pointing in the direction from which refugees would be returning. 2764 As of March 2018, this new fencing has reportedly been completed along all but 60 kilometres of the border,2765 following a February 2018 parliamentary approval of 15 million US dollars for this purpose.2766 The new fence is being built by the Ministry of Home Affairs, which falls under the control of the Tatmadaw. The border area has reportedly been further fortified with additional troops and military posts.2767 (d) Terrain clearance and construction 1216. In December 2017, the Myanmar Government embarked on a major operation to remove and clear burned structures, with the use of heavy machinery, and build new infrastructure in their place. The Government said that this was in preparation for Rohingya returnees.2768 Through this process, many Rohingya villages have been rendered unrecognisable, devoid of all structures, trees and vegetation. Authorities are building new security structures, developing new infrastructure projects and constructing new “model villages”, predominantly, possibly exclusively, for non-Rohingya communities.2769 Bangladeshi families are reportedly being invited by Myanmar to Rakhine State on the promise of land, citizenship, and free food.2770 Rohingya who fled Myanmar in 2018 saw bulldozers and other types of land clearance.2771 As one Rohingya woman who fled Myanmar in the mid-February 2018, from her village in southern Buthidaung, told the Mission: While crossing Maungdaw, we did not see any trees and houses. All were removed. We saw the bulldozers. The Government is clearing the land to erase the signs of their destruction.2772 1217. The seizure of Rohingya land has been further entrenched through the purported application of laws that would further dispossess Rohingya. On 26 August 2017, the Union 2763 2764 2765 2766 2767 2768 2769 2770 2771 2772 Global New Light of Myanmar, “Senior General meets locals in N-Rakhine, receives Japanese delegation in Nay Pyi Taw” (22 September 2017). QM-001, XM-002, XM-006. V-189. V-207; Global New Light of Myanmar, “Pyidaungsu Hluttaw discusses housing, infrastructure loans” (23 May 2018); Meeting summary, 9th day of the 7th Regular Session, 2nd Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, Republic of Union of Myanmar (Official meeting notes, 22 February 2018), https://pyidaungsu.hluttaw.mm/uploads/pdf/okyLLx_9%20Day%20Meeting(22-2-2018).pdf J. Emont, “Myanmar Blocks Rohingya Return With Fence, Barbed Wire and Land Mines” (Wall Street Journal, 20 March 2018). V-191; see also Rebuttal Statement at the Interactive Dialogue on the Situation of Human Rights in Myanmar during 37th Session of Human Rights Council during which the Myanmar Ambassador stated, “In preparing facilities for the repatriation, bulldozing the ground is part of the process”, http://www.president-office.gov.mm/en/?q=issues/rakhine-state-affairs/id-8555 Union Enterprise for Humanitarian Assistance, Resettlement and Development in Rakhine State, “Nearly 800 houses under construction for displaced villagers in Maungtaw” (News Release, 6 December 2017), http://rakhine.unionenterprise.org/latest-news-en/235-nearly-800-houses-underconstruction-for-displaced-villagers-in-maungtaw LM-016; Reuters, “Myanmar lures Bangladeshi Buddhists to take over Rohingya land” (2 April 2018); RFA, “Land, Citizenship Await Them in Myanmar, Bangladeshi Tribespeople Told” (24 April 2018). CI-101, CI-102, CI-103, CI-107, CI-151. CI-102. 287