A/HRC/39/CRP.2 1156. Approximately two weeks prior to 25 August 2017, two navy vessels, not normally seen in the area, were operating in the Bay of Bengal, in the area of southern Maungdaw and coastal Rathedaung Township.2610 At least one of these vessels fired on a Rohingya village. 2611 1157. This level of build-up, both in quantity and nature, would have required significant logistical planning over a considerable period. It would have required decisions at the most senior levels of the Tatmadaw. The Mission has concluded that this preparation, the joint nature of the operations,2612 and the deployment of the LIDs indicate that the “clearance operations”, or at least the ability to carry out a large and widespread operation, was planned and ordered well in advance of 25 August 2017. Incidents in Rathedaung Township, July and August 2017 1158. A number of incidents took place in northern Rathedaung Township in July and August 2017 that contributed to the rapidly escalating tensions across Rakhine State. These were not isolated events but took place in close proximity to each other, in a series of neighbouring village tracts. 1159. These incidents were well publicized, reported on by Rakhine media 2613 as well as in national2614 and international media.2615 In a public statement, ARSA stated that these incidents were “pre-planned and organized crimes” which it viewed as being aimed at causing intercommunal violence in Rakhine State “to trigger a repeat of 2012-style violence”.2616 2610 2611 2612 2613 2614 2615 2616 272 LI-045, LI-052, LI-053, LI-100, QI-113. See this chapter, section D.1.a: Most serious incidents, for details on the “clearance operation” in Koe Tan Kauk. Joint Operations are operations involving two or more of the military branches; Army, Navy and/or Air Force. Narinjara, “Cows are still being stolen, killed and eaten, despite the increased security in Zay Di Pyin, Mayu coastal area” (Narinjara News, 13 August 2017): https://bit.ly/2xbYja9 For example, Global New Light on Myanmar, “Attack on police force arresting financial supporter of violent attackers in Yathedaung” (5 August 2017). S. Naing, “Rohingya villagers blockaded amid fresh tensions in Myanmar's Rakhine – residents” (Reuters, 22 August 2017). ARSA Statement, ARSA/PR/04/2017, on 6 August 2017.