A/HRC/39/CRP.2 (b) Pre-planning, instigation and role of security forces 728. The Government’s portrayal of the 2012 violence as “intercommunal” between the Rohingya and Rakhine has prevailed but is inaccurate. While there certainly was violence between Rohingya and Rakhine groups, resulting in killing and destruction of property, these attacks were not spontaneous outbursts of hostility. They resulted from a plan to instigate violence and build tensions. This was facilitated and amplified by the hate campaign that started in February 2012 and intensified significantly after 28 May 2012. 1571 Myanmar security forces failed to stop the violence and often actively participated. Distribution of pamphlets inciting ethnic Rakhine 729. According to credible information, incendiary letters or pamphlets were distributed to ethnic Rakhine before some of the incidents. In Sittwe, a few days before the violence in June 2012, pamphlets were reportedly received by members of the ethnic Rakhine community1572 requesting each household to send at least one person to participate in planned attacks on Rohingya neighbourhoods, while others were asked to remain behind to defend their village in case of retaliatory attacks. One credible report quotes Rohingya interviewees stating that before the violence they saw pamphlets being distributed to Rakhine houses by people on motorbikes. They realised that something was happening but even close Rakhine friends would not tell them what the pamphlets said. 1573An interviewee from the town of Ramree, which also saw significant violence in June 2012, referred to pamphlets stating that Muslims should not be allowed in Myanmar. He was warned by one of his Rakhine friends that some of the Rakhine were planning to attack Muslims and destroy his village.1574 Transportation of ethnic Rakhine and distribution of weapons 730. Ethnic Rakhine were transported in groups ahead of the violence and weapons were also distributed. According to credible reports, in June 2012, groups of Rakhine were brought to Sittwe downtown on boats and buses. 1575 As they were waiting next to the bus, they were reportedly given sticks and machetes.1576 Another report states that before one of the attacks, men on motorbikes had allegedly driven around shouting that the attack would take place at 2 pm, as later transpired.1577 Similarly, one Kaman interviewee from Kyaukpyu told the Mission that, ahead of the violence in Paik Seik on 25 October 2012, he saw members of the RNDP distributing alcohol, machetes and knives to the ethnic Rakhine, in the presence of security forces.1578 731. One interviewee, who lived in Shikdar hamlet, near the entrance of Maungdaw town, witnessed the arrival at various monasteries of a large number of ethnic Rakhine who she did not recognise, reportedly in military vehicles.1579 Similarly, another interviewee described how, on 8 June 2012, she saw Tatmadaw soldiers collect ethnic Rakhine and their valuables in their vehicles, reportedly to protect them from the burning of houses that took place soon after.1580 732. The simultaneous nature of many of the incidents further indicates pre-planning. The initial violence in Maungdaw on 8 June 2012 was followed within 12 hours by a significant outbreak of violence in Sittwe, some 60 kilometres to the south. Similarly, in October 2012, 1571 1572 1573 1574 1575 1576 1577 1578 1579 1580 See this chapter, section C.5: Spreading hate. K-114, K-076.9.20, K-076.9.24. K-076.9.24. CI-171. K-076.9.18, K-114, V-168. V-168. K-076.17. CI-165. DI-026. DI-054. 173