A/HRC/42/CRP.5 indiscriminate attacks or to indicate that the attacks were directed against the civilian population. The Tatmadaw also used other tactics in its military operations that the Mission previously documented in Rakhine, Kachin and Shan States, such as torturing people suspected of being members of, or associated with, the AA, using forced labour, restricting humanitarian access and seizing civilian property, including food and other items indispensable to the survival of the civilian population. 254. The Mission also documented the Tatmadaw’s use of schools and religious buildings for military purposes. The conflict between the AA and the Tatmadaw is having devastating consequences for civilians in Rakhine and Chin States. Ethnic Rakhine are the main victims of the conflict, but Chin minority groups and Rohingya who reside in active conflict areas are also severely affected. An estimated 50,000 civilians have been displaced into makeshift temporary displacement sites, many of whom do not have access to adequate humanitarian assistance. 255. The Mission has also received credible reports of at least four ethnic Rakhine villages being burned by the Tatmadaw.572 The Mission was unable to verify these reports through satellite imagery due to persistent cloud cover during the rainy season and due to the Government imposed internet shutdown that began on 20 June 2019.573 The Mission is nonetheless concerned about these allegations because the burning of villages is a known tactic of the Tatmadaw.574 Further investigations are therefore warranted. 256. The Myanmar Government’s response also included a crackdown on fundamental freedoms, which included the internet shutdown. The shutdown creates an information vacuum that makes it difficult to monitor the human rights impact of the Government’s military operations. It has consequences for the delivery of humanitarian assistance. The 572 573 574 INCIDENT ONE: Allegations that the ethnic Rakhine village Ah Myet Taung, Rathedaung Township, was burned on 5 July 2019 see: Radio Free Asia, “Rakhine Villagers Say Myanmar Army Burned Houses After Fighting With Ethnic Army (5 July 2019), Min Aung Khine. “Homes Set Ablaze After Fighting in N. Rakhine” (The Irrawaddy, 8 July 2019); See also: https://burma.irrawaddy.com/news/2019/07/07/197254.html;https://burmese.narinjara.com/news/detai l/5d1f1cc3a337d1043aa0b3ac; http://burmese.dvb.no/archives/335870; https://www.vomnews.com/news/2019/07/06/%E1%80%9B%E1%80%81%E1%80%AD%E1%80%AF%E1%80%84 %E1%80%B9%E1%80%B1%E1%80%BB%E1%80%99%E1%80%AC%E1%80%80%E1%80%B9 %E1%80%95%E1%80%AD%E1%80%AF%E1%80%84%E1%80%B9%E1%80%B8%E1%80%99 %E1%80%BD%E1%80%AC-%E1%80%90/. INCIDENT TWO: Allegations that the ethnic Rakhine village Nwar Yone Taung Village, Buthidaung Township, was burned on 13 July 2019. See: https://www.facebook.com/khitthitnews/posts/686923625078320; https://burmese.narinjara.com/news/detail/5d29a6daa337d1043aa0b404; https://burmese.narinjara.com/news/detail/5d2ad6f3a337d1043aa0b40c, https://burmese.voanews.com/a/4999816.html; https://www.rfa.org/burmese/news/butheetaung-fire07142019080110.html. INCIDENT THREE: Allegations that 8 homes in the ethnic Rakhine village Kyaukmaw Paik Seik Village, Myebon Township, was burned on 23 July 2019. See: Radio Free Asia, “Myanmar Army Denies Burning Fishing Village Near Site of Rebel Attack on Naval Boats”. https://www.omedia.news/%E1%80%90%E1%80%95%E1%80%B9%E1%80%99%E1%80%B1%E 1%80%90%E1%80%AC%E1%80%B9%E1%80%B1%E1%80%9B%E1%80%94%E1%80%B2%E1 %82%94-aa%E1%80%90%E1%80%AF%E1%80%AD%E1%80%B9%E1%80%80%E1%80%B9%E1%80%95 %E1%80%BC/. INCIDENT FOUR: Allegations that an abandoned ethnic Rakhine village of U Yin Thar village, Buthidaung Township was burned on 4 September 2019, see: https://burma.irrawaddy.com/news/2019/09/05/203050.html, https://www.rfa.org/burmese/program_2/ooyinthar-village-fire-09052019085202.html, https://www.rfa.org/burmese/news/uyinthar-village-fired-09042019092626.html, https://burmese.voanews.com/a/rakhine-conflict/5069288.html On 1 September 2019, it was reported that Ministry of Transport and Communications lifted the internet ban in Maungdaw, Buthidaung, Rathedaung and Myebon Townships in Rakhine and Paletwa Township in Chin State. See Telenor Group, See: Telenor, “Internet Services Restored in Five Townships in Myanmar” (1 September 2019); The Irrawaddy, "Myanmar Govt Restores Internet Access to Parts of Rakhine, Chin States" (2 September 2019); The other four townships remain under the ban at the time of writing. A/HRC/39/CRP.2, paras 959 – 977. 81