A/HRC/39/CRP.2 1008. Information collected by the Mission through the course of its fact-finding into the 2017 “clearance operations” broadly corresponds with the numbers indicated in these efforts to date, and suggests that the estimate of up to 10,000 deaths is conservative. (c) Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army Organization, structure and resources 1009. The Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) emerged following the violence in 2012. The 2012 events, including the participation of the authorities in the violence and widespread human rights violations against the Rohingya, combined with increasing oppression affecting all aspects of Rohingya life, served as a trigger for many of the founding and early members.2267 It first came to public attention in October 2016, when it launched three coordinated attacks on security posts in Rakhine State. It became more visible following its subsequent attacks of August 2017. 1010. In its early stages, the organization did not have a name or clearly defined goals.2268 It was loosely organized around the principle of seeking justice for the Rohingya Muslim community. Initially, the movement may have been open to engagement with the authorities and to finding a political solution, particularly in view of the democratic opening in Myanmar during this period.2269 The group appears to have waited for the 2016 transfer of power to the civilian government, hoping it would bring positive change in the promotion and protection of Rohingya rights. However, in the absence of any visible improvements for the Rohingya in the months after the NLD took office, the group prepared its military strategy. 2270 1011. On 9 October 2016, the group launched its first offensive action against government targets, carrying out three attacks on BGP posts in Maungdaw Township. It adopted an official name, Harakah-al-Yaqin (Faith Movement), only after these attacks. 2271 1012. In March 2017, the organization opened a Twitter account, and issued its first public statements, using the English name Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army. 2272 ARSA issued a series of public statements in English about its objectives and intentions, reiterating its goal to “defend” the Rohingya and their rights. ARSA noted in its first press statement, released on Twitter on 10 March 2017: …our sole objective is to defend, salvage and protect the innocent Rohingya indigenous native ethnic community of Arakan State with our best capacities as we have the legitimate right under international law to defend ourselves in line with the principle of self-defense. In doing so, our defensive attacks have been aimed only at the Burmese terrorist government and its terrorist military regime in accordance with international norms and principles until our demands are filled. 2273 1013. In the same press release, ARSA elaborated a 20-point list of demands, asking for a range of political, economic, social and cultural rights for Rohingya, as well as requesting independent investigation of all allegations, including by the United Nations,2274 and accountability for past abuses.2275 2267 2268 2269 2270 2271 2272 2273 2274 2275 242 August at the time of APHR’s visit, over 36,000 children were reported to have lost at least one parent and over 7,700 were reported to have lost both parents, LI-121, LI-122, QI-099, XI-007, XI-008, BM-024, BM-025, V-094; See chapter V.B: Systemic oppression and persecution of the Rohingya. QI-099. LI-122, BM-024, BM-025. BM-024, BM-025, V-129, ARSA/PR/01/2017. @ARSA_Official in its biography on Twitter describes itself as “formerly called Faith Movement or Harakah Al Yaqeen”. See: https://twitter.com/ARSA_Official BM-025. See ARSA Press Release, ARSA/PR/01/2017, 10 March 2017. ARSA, Press Release, ARSA/PR/08/2017 on 6 September 2017. ARSA, Press Release, ARSA/PR/01/2017, 10 March 2017.