A/HRC/39/CRP.2 1331. The distinction between groups who belong in Myanmar (“ethnics”) and others also arises in the way the Myanmar authorities refer to victims and civilians who are affected by the violence. First, the Mission found almost no references to Rohingya (or “Bengali”) as potential victims. Even when the Tatmadaw confirmed the extrajudicial killing of 10 men found in a mass grave in Inn Din, they referred to the victims as “Bengali terrorists”. 2945 The over 700,000 Rohingya who fled the violence to Bangladesh, and their suffering, were also rarely mentioned or acknowledged. They were referred to in convoluted phrases like “those who fled to the other country”.2946 In fact, Rohingya victims were often portrayed collectively as perpetrators and “terrorists” (see below). In contrast, victims from other ethnic groups and religions (including Rakhine, Hindus and Mro,) were frequently mentioned and humanized through interviews, photos and videos, which has led to widespread expression of sympathy on social media for these victims.2947 1332. The way in which the Myanmar authorities presented the return of eight Hindu women from Bangladesh to Myanmar, for instance, showed significant bias against the Rohingya. Photos, videos, interviews with, and stories about these women were promoted and shared by all official accounts. The women alleged that their husbands were killed by ARSA, that they were kidnapped and told to convert to Islam, or be killed. Accepting these claims at face value2948, the extreme focus on this one incident in a context where other allegations and severe incidents received no coverage or acknowledgement served the purpose of painting Islam as a violent religion and Rohingya as trying to islamise Myanmar. A video showing interviews with the Hindu women was posted on the official Facebook page of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief with the caption: “Voices of the survivors about the mass murder of Hindus […] by Bengali terrorists”. 2949 Comments under the video included: “Stay strong, my sister. These inhuman followers of the evil-religion will disappear from our land one day”; “Kill all these Kway Kalar. Motherfucking shit-Ro animals”.2950 1333. Myanmar authorities actively associated Rohingya identity with terrorism. Rohingya are typically only referred to as terrorists or suspected terrorists, often in sweeping phrases implying that the entire group is terrorist or violent in nature. This narrative preceded the emergence of ARSA. For example, in the 23 May 2016 issue of Myawady Daily, a newspaper run by the Tatmadaw, an article stated, “Throughout successive eras, several racial and religious conflicts have broken out in Rakhine State, due to the ‘Khoe Win Bengali’ [Bengali who entered the country by stealth]. The attack on the race happened again in 2012 in Rakhine State, between the ‘Khoe Win Bengali’, who are not citizens, and the ethnic people. This attack was disguised as a religious conflict.” 2951 In the concluding paragraph of the same article, the author claimed that “the issue of ‘Anout Ta Kha’ [West Gate]… is the concern of every Myanmar citizen”. 1334. This narrative of the whole Rohingya population being “terrorists” and inherently violent was reinforced in the aftermath of the ARSA attacks. When discussing the crisis in Rakhine State, the Tatmadaw generally referred to “extremist Bengali terrorists” and on occasion to “ARSA extremist Bengali terrorists” (sometimes even just to “Bengali”). It is 2945 2946 2947 2948 2949 2950 2951 Post on file with the Mission. Post on file with the Mission. For coverage on Hindu victims, see e.g. Information Committee posts “Interview with Hindus who fled from their villages” on 1 September 2017 (https://www.facebook.com/InfomationCommittee/posts/788602791312829) and “The words of bereaved families of Hindus killed by ARSA terrorists” on 27 September 2017 (https://www.facebook.com/InfomationCommittee/posts/807089859464122), as well as posts of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief no longer available on Facebook but on file with the Mission. Coverage on Mro victims, e.g. Information Committee post “ARSA extremist terrorists continue setting houses on fire” of 30 August 2017 (https://www.facebook.com/InfomationCommittee/posts/788328661340242). See chapter V, section D.1.c: The Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army. Post on file with the Mission. Post on file with the Mission. See No. 35, Vol. 6 of Myawady Daily: http://www.myawady.net.mm/index.php/download/category/ 35-%E1%81%85-%E1%81%82%E1%81%80%E1%81%81%E1%81%86?download=702:2352016 &start=20, p. 13. 335