A/HRC/42/CRP.3 Rakhine where around 1.2 million displaced Rohingya people still live seven years later. 254 The Mission has found these camps to be effectively places of deprivation of liberty.255 110. In addition to the projects described above, the civilian Government and the Tatmadaw began in earnest soliciting donations to reinforce a barrier fence between Myanmar and Bangladesh. On 6 September 2017, a high-level meeting was held in Nay Pyi Taw, at which President U Htin Kyaw, State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and Vice Senior General Soe Win reportedly discussed the need to urgently repair fences and construct new barriers along the Myanmar-Bangladesh border.256 Although the barrier fence had been previously discussed in Parliament on several earlier occasions,257 its reinforcement and construction did not appear to have been a priority for the Myanmar Government up to this point, as no budget had been allocated to the Ministry of Home Affairs for it in the 2017-2018 fiscal year.258 Following the forcible deportation of the Rohingya to Bangladesh,259 however, strengthening the barrier became an urgent priority for the Government. The spokesperson for the President’s Office stated, “We will fence it by all means… We don’t know where the funds will come from, but we’ll do it anyway.” 260 The Mission found that the civilian government raised funds for the fence through UEHRD. In this context, the purpose of the fence is revealed as one of several UEHRD projects aimed at ensuring the Rohingya cannot return to their communities and homeland. 111. In tandem, the Tatmadaw also solicited funds to build the barrier fence. This is elaborated in detail below in the section concerning the Tatmadaw fundraising ceremonies. During at least two of the three ceremonies, Commander-in-Chief, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing specifically sought donations to reinforce the fence. 112. Strengthening the barrier commenced in early September 2017, with the Commanderin-Chief, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, confirming the construction in public statements at that time.261 The border area was reportedly further fortified with additional troops and military posts.262 According to witnesses, following the “clearance operations” that began in August 2017, Tatmadaw soldiers and Myanmar Border Guard started installing barbed wire fencing at the Myanmar-Bangladesh border with Rakhine State. New barriers were erected 200 metres from the border in Myanmar territory to avoid consultations with Bangladesh authorities required for any construction within 150 metres of the international border.263 One such barrier, made out of reinforced concrete, surrounds approximately 4,000 Rohingya internally displaced persons (IDPs) living less than 200 meters from the Bangladesh border inside Myanmar territory in Konar Para, segregating them from the rest of Myanmar.264 In 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 Laignee Barron, “Internment fears as Myanmar plans new camps for scattered Rohingya,” The New Humanitarian, 19 September 2017 (http://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/news/2017/09/19/internment-fears-myanmar-plans-new-campsscattered-rohingya). A/HRC/39/CRP.2, paragraph 517. Htet Naing Zaw, “Myanmar Govt to Fence Remaining 40-mile Border with Bangladesh”, The Irrawaddy, 8 September 2017 (https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/myanmar-govt-to-fenceremaining-40-mile-border-with-bangladesh.html). Pyithu Hluttaw discusses Rakhine state of affairs, 24 August 2017, posted by Myanmar News Agency (http://www.globalnewlightofmyanmar.com/pyithu-hluttaw-discusses-rakhines-state-of-affairs/). Htet Naing Zaw, “Myanmar Govt to Fence Remaining 40-mile Border with Bangladesh”, The Irrawaddy, 8 September 2017 (https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/myanmar-govt-to-fenceremaining-40-mile-border-with-bangladesh.html). A/HRC/39/CRP.2paragraph 1490. Htet Naing Zaw, “Myanmar Govt to Fence Remaining 40-mile Border with Bangladesh”, The Irrawaddy, 8 September 2017 (https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/myanmar-govt-to-fenceremaining-40-mile-border-with-bangladesh.html). Global New Light of Myanmar, “Senior General meets locals in N-Rakhine, receives Japanese delegation in Nay Pyi Taw” (22 September 2017). J. Emont, “Myanmar Blocks Rohingya Return With Fence, Barbed Wire and Land Mines” (Wall Street Journal, 20 March 2018). XM-005. Muktadir Rashid, “Myanmar Urges Rohingya to Leave ‘No-man’s land’ on Bangladesh Border”, The Irrawaddy, 21 May 2018 (https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/myanmar-urges-rohingya-leaveno-mans-land-bangladesh-border.html). 39