Myanmar’s human rights commission will not investigate alleged abuses committed against civilian detainees in northern Rakhine state, including deaths in custody of the government military, unless the army first finds soldiers guilty of such abuse, according to a RFA report.

Oo Tun Win and Myint Naing, two lawmakers from Rakhine’s Kyauktaw township, submitted a formal letter to Myanmar’s parliament on June 21 through the Committee for Compliant and Appeals, urging an investigation into incidents in which suspects died in military detention, and calling for legal action against violators.

On Monday, nearly six months after submitting the letter, the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC) replied that it would take legal action only if current investigations by a Ministry of Defense tribunal found soldiers guilty.