A/HRC/39/CRP.2
property, extortion and sexual and gender-based violence. These are not necessarily unique
to the Rohingya. As described above, they are also faced to a large extent by the ethnic
Rakhine and probably other groups as well. However, in the case of the Rohingya, these are
added on to all other forms of oppression and persecution described above.
(a)
Forced or compulsory labour
614. As with the ethnic Rakhine population, forced or compulsory labour has been a
common experience for many Rohingya in Rakhine State. The Mission corroborated cases
from Maungdaw and Buthidaung Townships in northern Rakhine State,1281 although it is
likely that Rohingya in central and southern regions have had similar experiences. Forced
labour has been prevalent for many years, with reports that more than two-thirds of Rohingya
families in the two townships had to provide forced labour prior to 2011.1282 The Mission
found incidents of forced labour in 2012 and 2013, although credible information indicates
that the practice continued in northern Rakhine until 2016, and possibly beyond, albeit at a
reduced rate.1283 Perpetrators of forced labour have primarily been the Tatmadaw and the
NaSaKa (until its disbandment in 2013).
615. The established patterns are very similar to those outlined in relation to the ethnic
Rakhine, including in terms of the types of forced labour (for example, portering,
construction work, farming, maintenance of security camps), the frequency of the work, the
general ill-treatment suffered in the context of such labour (including beatings and verbal
abuse), and the economic impact on the individual and their families. In some cases there
appears to have been an option to avoid forced labour, through the payment of bribes, or
through paying other villagers to perform the task on their behalf. 1284
(b)
Confiscation and extortion
616. Like the ethnic Rakhine, the Rohingya suffer from arbitrary confiscation of livestock
and goods by security forces, usually with total impunity. 1285 One interviewee explained:
Looting of vegetables and domestic animals, by the military, the NaSaKa and the
police was common. They used to take anything they wanted from the land, without
paying. They took also commodities from the villagers whenever they thought they
might need them.1286
617. Already extremely vulnerable because of their lack of legal status and other forms of
systemic oppression, the Rohingya additionally suffer from extortion at the hands of security
forces and other authorities. It affects many aspects of their lives. 1287 This includes having to
pay to obtain permission to move from one place to another, stay overnight in another
household, and pass checkpoints.1288 They also have to make payments or pay bribes to obtain
marriage permissions, have a child included on the household list, have a family member
deleted from the list,1289 obtain the necessary authorisations to build or repair their homes,
bring back wood or bamboo from the forest, 1290 as well as avoid or be released from arbitrary
1281
1282
1283
1284
1285
1286
1287
1288
1289
1290
CI-062, CI-072, CI-079, CI-089, CI-092, CI-093, CI-094, CI-173, DI-001, DI-002, DI-005.
K-063.
K-063.
CI-080, CI-089, DI-047.
CI-062, CI-064, CI-065, CI-073, DI-013, DI-025, DI-038.
CI-073.
CI-061, CI-062, CI-063, CI-064, CI-065, CI-069, CI-070, CI-072, CI-073, CI-076, CI-079, CI-080,
CI-082, CI-085, CI-089, CI-090, CI-092, CI-094, CI-098, CI-100, CI-133, CI-134, CI-136, CI-144,
CI-146, CI-149, CI-162, CI-173, CI-174, CI-175, CI-176, CI-179, CI-181, CI-183, CI-186, CI-189,
CI-190, CI-192, CI-194, DI-001, DI-003, DI-004, DI-008, DI-010, DI-013, DI-020, DI-025, DI-026,
DI-037, DI-038, DI-046, DI-047, DI-050, DI-054, DI-076, LI-105, ZI-002.
CI-061, CI-063, CI-064, CI-065, CI-069, CI-070, CI-072, CI-073, CI-079, CI-080, CI-082, CI-090,
CI-174, DI-001, DI-003, DI-020, DI-025, LI-105.
CI-061, CI-062, CI-064, CI-065, CI-070, CI-072, CI-073, CI-076, CI-079, CI-082, CI-089, CI-092,
CI-173, DI-001, DI-004, DI-025.
CI-061, CI-073, CI-079, CI-082, CI-090, DI-038, DI-10.
145