A/HRC/39/CRP.2 the lowest access to clean water and sanitation. 909 There are also concerns that some largescale development projects, such as the Shwe Gas pipeline, and initial preparatory phases for the Kyaukpyu Special Economic Zone are not benefitting local communities.910 408. In late 2015, an ethnic Rakhine armed group, the Arakan Army, started operating in Rakhine State.911 Its stated aims include self-determination for ethnic Rakhine (Arakanese) people, safeguarding cultural heritage and promoting the “national dignity and Arakanese national interest”.912 It has operated in a number of townships within Rakhine State and has since sporadically clashed with the Tatmadaw, with clashes reportedly becoming more frequent and more deadly in recent years. 913 The casualties incurred by the Tatmadaw in these clashes exceed those resulting from the ARSA attacks of 2016 and 2017. The clashes have also caused displacement of civilians. 409. In September 2016, in an effort to address the concerns of all communities in the State, the Myanmar Government formed the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State. The Commission, composed of six national and three international members, was chaired by former United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan. It was mandated to “finding lasting solutions to the complex and delicate issues in Rakhine State, in accordance with established international standards”. The Commission produced a final report in August 2017, including 88 wide ranging recommendations. 914 The Office of the State Counsellor welcomed “recommendations for meaningful and long-term solutions”. It stated that it would give the report “full consideration with a view to carrying out the recommendations to the fullest extent, and within the shortest timeframe possible, in line with the situation on the ground.” 915 The report noted that the situation in Rakhine State amounted to a “development crisis”, a “human rights crisis”, and a “security crisis”. It underscored that the mandate of the Advisory Commission was not to examine specific allegations of human rights violations. 916 410. The Mission has examined such specific allegations. It has focused on (1) human rights violations against the ethnic Rakhine, (2) the systemic oppression of the Rohingya, (3) the violence in 2012, and (4) the extreme violence in 2016 and 2017 in the context of the ARSA attacks and security forces’ “clearance operations”. A. Human rights violations against the ethnic Rakhine I want to share my story with the whole world because the world does not know what is happening in our land.917 909 910 911 912 913 914 915 916 917 100 Data from 2014 census data available on an interactive platform: http://www.dopredatam.gov.mm/redbin/RpWebEngine.exe/Portal?BASE=MMARENG&lang=eng CI-154, CI-162; International Commission of Jurists, Special Economic Zones in Myanmar and the State Duty to Protect Human Rights (February 2017); Earth Rights International, There is no benefit, they destroyed our farmland (June 2013). The Arakan Army was created in 2009 in Kachin State, predominantly by ethnic Rakhine migrant workers from the mines of Hpakant who received training by the Kachin Independence Army (KIA). The Arakan Army is part of the Northern Alliance and the Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee (see chapter IV: Emblematic situation 1: Kachin and Shan States) and has participated in hostilities in the north of Shan State, Kokang Self-administered zone and Kachin State. Myanmar Peace Monitor, The Arakan Army. According to credible reports, the townships where the Arakan Army operates include Buthidaung, Kyauktaw, Maungdaw, Mrauk-U, Minbya, Ponnagyun, and Rathedaung. See: K-076.23; D. Mathieson, “Shadowy rebels extend Myanmar’s wars (Asia Times, 11 June 2017); A. Davis, “Myanmar’s other Rakhine problem (Asia Times, 29 November 2017). Advisory Commission on Rakhine State, Final Report, Towards a peaceful, fair and prosperous future for the people of Rakhine (August 2017). Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Office of the State Counsellor, Statement by the Office of the State Counsellor on the Final Report of the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State (24 August 2017). Advisory Commission on Rakhine State, Final Report, Towards a peaceful, fair and prosperous future for the people of Rakhine (August 2017), pp. 9-10 and p. 13. DI-028.