A/HRC/42/CRP.5 D. Security and safety 176. Against the backdrop of legal and physical restrictions on the remaining Rohingya population in Rakhine State, there also continue to be serious concerns about their safety and security. 177. During 2019, concerns for the safety and security of the Rohingya in northern Rakhine State have arisen from the conflict between the Tatmadaw and the AA. That conflict does not involve the Rohingya directly but, because it is most intense in northern Rakhine State, it has had some effect on those Rohingya who remain there and it poses increasing dangers.362 As discussed below, clashes between the AA and the Tatmadaw have intensified since October 2018 and the new spate of attacks in early 2019 marked a significant escalation in hostilities, bringing the conflict into northern Rakhine State on a large scale for the first time. The conflict has affected nine townships, including Maungdaw, Buthidaung and Rathedaung Townships.363 The AA has stated that they are only in conflict with the Tatmadaw and its operations are not directed at the Rohingya. 364 However, some Rohingya have been affected. One interviewee gave the following account to the Mission: The fighting between the AA and the Tatmadaw has started in my area two months back. All villagers are very afraid of the current situation, even they are afraid to talk about the situation. One day a bomb was dropped on my village. During the time, I was at home. I heard the sound of bombing and, later on, I went to see the place where the bomb was dropped. I saw that one Muslim house and one mogh 365 house were burnt to the ground. These houses were next to each other. Another bomb was dropped on the school. The school was destroyed. The bomb was fired from the hill at the east side. As they dropped bomb once, there is a high possibility that it would happen again. I am afraid of bombing. That’s why I left.366 178. Interviewees reported that early in the conflict, the Tatmadaw warned Rohingya not to provide support to the AA and to inform the Tatmadaw if they observed any AA movements in and around the villages.367 The Mission received accounts of the arrest of Rohingya in Buthidaung Township on the suspicion of providing support to the AA.368 The use of helicopters by the Tatmadaw in recent attacks has also increased the level of fear among the local Rohingya population.369 179. The Mission heard accounts that the Tatmadaw and BGP have increased patrolling, including in the forest areas where Rohingya often go to collect firewood or cut bamboo. 370 In a village in Buthidaung Township, the Village Administrator warned Rohingya to limit their movement within the village because the military had received orders to kill anyone found in violation of these new restrictions.371 180. The Mission reiterates its view that the Government’s actions targeting the Rohingya are not directly connected with the Tatmadaw’s conflict with the AA. The security situation in northern Rakhine State has deteriorated as a result of the conflict but the Mission does not consider that the conflict is the basis of the Government’s continued persecution of the Rohingya. 362 363 364 365 366 367 368 369 370 371 58 CI-289, CI-310, FI-025, CM-004, FM-003, V-370. CI-289, CI-310, FI-025, CM-004, FM-003, V-370. LI-187, LM-028, LM-035. The term “Mogh” is referred to a person of ethnic-Rakhine ethnicity. CI-289. CI-217, CI-241, CI-291, CI-305, CI-308. CI-205, CI-291. CI-287, CI-289, CI-310. CI-270, CI-310, FI-024, FI-025, FI-027, FI-028, FI-035, FI-046, FI-048. FI-007.