A/HRC/39/CRP.2 refer to a total of 94 “engagements” between 25 August and 5 September 2017. 2350 The Mission has been unable to corroborate these figures. 1039. The majority of targets chosen were BGP posts and checkpoints, with the exception of army base 552 in Chin Tha Mar village tract, Buthidaung Township. The attacks were carried out by ARSA members together with some local villagers mobilised in support.2351 The Mission corroborated 17 separate attacks, including the attack against army base 552. There is credible information that an additional 17 attacks took place. The Government originally estimated the number of assailants as ranging from 10 to 20 in some locations, 100 to 300 in others, and an alleged 1,000 in relation to the attack on Myin Hlut (Mayrulla), Maungdaw Township, police station. However, the Tatmadaw’s investigation team later referred to between 6,200 and “more than 10,000” ARSA participants on 25 August. 2352 The Mission was not able to verify these numbers. Although the Government officially declared 5 September 2017 to be the end of the offensive, 2353 Tatmadaw “clearance operations” continued for some time after this date. 2354 There is nothing to indicate that the Tatmadaw suffered any casualties during any post-25 August “engagements”. The Mission did not find credible information to substantiate the Government’s claims of continuing offensives or clashes with ARSA in September. 1040. On 10 September 2017, ARSA declared a one-month ceasefire, “in order to enable humanitarian actors to assess and respond to the humanitarian crisis in Arakan State”. 2355 After the deadline for the cessation of the ceasefire, hostilities did not resume. However, four months later, in January 2018, ARSA claimed responsibility for an ambush of a military convoy in Turaing village, San Kar Pin Yin village tract, northern Maungdaw Township. Video footage of this ambush, stamped with ARSA’s logo, shows a number of fighters shooting from the bushes towards a military vehicle. 2356 No casualties were reported.2357 1041. According to the Government, 376 “assailants” and 13 members of security forces died in the 2017 attacks, and 15 assorted arms, 97 ammunitions, 30 packs of gunpowder and 67 homemade mines were confiscated from alleged ARSA members. 2358 1042. Following the 25 August 2017 attacks, the Government declared ARSA a “terrorist organization”, and thus a threat to national security. 2359 ARSA supporters could be held 2350 2351 2352 2353 2354 2355 2356 2357 2358 2359 248 Global New Light of Myanmar, “Information released by the Tatmadaw True News Information Team on the findings of the Investigation Team in connection with the performances of the security troops during the terrorist attacks in Maungdaw region, Rakhine State” (14 November 2017). QI-099. Global New Light of Myanmar, “Information released by the Tatmadaw True News Information Team on the findings of the Investigation Team in connection with the performances of the security troops during the terrorist attacks in Maungdaw region, Rakhine State” (14 November 2017). “Speech delivered by Her Excellency Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, State Counsellor of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar on Government’s efforts with regard to National Reconciliation and Peace” (Facebook post, 19 September 2017), https://www.facebook.com/state.counsellor/posts/speechdelivered-by-her-excellency-daw-aung-san-suu-kyi-state-counsellor-of-the-/1121130291354519. For example, Office of the Commander-in-Chief stating that “engagements were on the decrease after 5 September”: (Facebook post on file with Mission). CI-043, QI-008, QI-010, QI-011, QI-025, QI-061, QI-062. ARSA Press Release, ARSA/PR/10/2017 on 10 September 2017. BM-049. See ARSA Statement, ARSA/PR/23/2018 on 7 January 2018. Information Committee; See also, Information Committee, “Soldiers and civilians injured due to the attack by a group of armed insurgents who were already under investigation” (Facebook Post, 5 January 2018), https://www.facebook.com/InfomationCommittee/photos/a.639477959558647.1073741828.63945620 6227489/855053054667802/; Facebook posts of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief, on file with Mission. Global New Light of Myanmar, “Information released by the Tatmadaw True News Information Team on the findings of the Investigation Team in connection with the performances of the security troops during the terrorist attacks in Maungdaw region, Rakhine State” (14 November 2017). The Republic of Union of Myanmar Anti-Terrorism Committee Order no 1/2017,” (27 Aug 2017) http://www.statecounsellor.gov.mm/en/node/968.