The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Myanmar Yanghee Lee has called for an investigation into allegations of ongoing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Myanmar's Rakhine and Chin States. She said in a statement that the calls for a ceasefire, including by the Arakan Army, have gone unheeded. Instead, the Tatmadaw is inflicting immense suffering on the ethnic communities in Rakhine and Chin and violates the most fundamental principles of international humanitarian law and human rights. Its conduct against the civilian population of Rakhine and Chin States may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity. She also called on all sides to protect civilians and focus on responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Yanghee Lee added, "The Tatmadaw continues to operate with impunity. For decades, its tactics have intentionally maximised civilian suffering; we all know what they did to the Rohingya in 2017. They are now targeting all civilians in the conflict area, with people from Rakhine, Rohingya, Mro, Daignet and Chin communities being killed in recent months". She also said, "The Tatmadaw has ramped up attacks against civilians. More than 157,000 people have been displaced, and hundreds including women and children killed and wounded since the conflict started. In one artillery attack on 13 April, the Tatmadaw killed eight civilians, including at least two children, when it targeted Kyauk Seik village, in Ponnagyun township. The military has kidnapped, arrested, tortured or killed dozens of men after burning up to 700 homes in Tin Ma village in Kyauktaw on 22 March.
