Myanmar military dismantles Rakhine IDP camp

28 January 2020
Myanmar military dismantles Rakhine IDP camp
(File) A woman carries a bag as she walks near the Tin Nyo village's internally displaced persons (IDP) shelter in Mrauk U township area, Rakhine State, western Myanmar, 15 July 2019. Photo: Nyunt Win/EPA

Myanmar military troops pressured local officials on Monday to remove a temporary camp housing ethnic Rakhines displaced by armed conflict in Rakhine state’s Myebon township, a day after soldiers destroyed tents and other structures during a night time attack, RFA reported quoting two Buddhist monks.

Government troops arrived in Myebon’s Sanyin village at about 10 p.m. local time Sunday, firing guns in the air and pushing village authorities to close down the refugee camp situated on a community soccer field, said Ar Rakha, a monk who is in charge of the internally displaced persons (IDP) camp.

He said the soldiers physically destroyed the camp.

The troops did not give a credible reason for demanding the camp’s closure, Ar Rakha said.