UN Probe: Myanmar Razed Rohingya Villages for Bases

Nicholas Koumjian

Myanmar’s military systematically destroyed Rohingya villages and built security outposts in their place following the 2017 mass expulsion of the Muslim minority, according to a damning UN-backed report released this week.

The investigation, led by the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM), details how homes, mosques, cemeteries and farmland were bulldozed, with private firms allegedly contracted to assist in the clearance and construction. Satellite imagery, video footage and official records were used to corroborate witness accounts.

One of the most striking examples is Inn Din, a village where Reuters previously reported the execution of ten Rohingya men. The IIMM now confirms that the military erected fortified compounds and helipads directly atop the ruins of Inn Din’s settlements.

Myanmar’s military has denied committing genocide, insisting any crimes were isolated incidents. However, the report suggests a coordinated effort to erase Rohingya communities and repurpose their land for strategic infrastructure.

The revelations come ahead of a UN high-level meeting in New York focused on the Rohingya crisis. With over 1.3 million refugees still living in overcrowded camps in Bangladesh, repatriation efforts remain stalled. IIMM chief Nicholas Koumjian warned that many displaced families have no homes to return to: “In many cases, their villages no longer exist.”

Compounding the crisis, the IIMM faces severe funding cuts that threaten its ability to continue gathering evidence. Its open-source investigations team may be forced to halt operations by year-end.

Myanmar remains gripped by political instability following the 2021 military coup, and renewed violence in Rakhine state has prompted fears of further displacement. Some Rohingya have reportedly taken up arms amid the escalating conflict.

The international community continues to call for safe, voluntary and dignified repatriation—but the path home grows ever more uncertain.

-2025-09-30