The United Nations Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM) has released a report stating that following the 2017 destruction and confiscation of Rohingya homes, farmland, and mosques in Rakhine State, the Myanmar military and business enterprises profited from the seized land and properties.
The report was issued on September 30, ahead of the High-Level Conference on Rohingya to be held at the UN Headquarters in New York, with the aim of drawing international attention to the urgent need for conditions enabling safe and dignified return of Rohingya refugees.
According to IIMM head Nicholas Koumjian, rebuilding communities and providing adequate support are essential to ensure Rohingya can return home with dignity.
The report notes that in seven villages in northern Rakhine, Rohingya homes were burned and destroyed after the 2017 military crackdown, and Border Guard Police (BGP) bases were later constructed on the land.
Furthermore, the report reveals that business entities—including Asia World Company—were involved in building camps and roads, directly benefiting from lands and farmlands seized in collaboration with the military and government authorities.
The IIMM clarified that the released report is only a summary. More detailed information will be shared with international courts and relevant authorities, with the expectation that the evidence will contribute to prosecutions and accountability for human rights violations, Koumjian stated in the report.
