October 5, 2023

The narrative surrounding the killing of a school teacher in Rakhine is being framed in terms of religious and racial motivations.

Investigation

The Process

In Rakhine State’s Rathitdaung Township, a 37-year-old secondary school teacher from Kyun Paw Pauk Taw village, Daw Hnin Yu Nwe, was killed in the middle of the road on the morning of September 16th while on her way from her village where she was on duty.

Some news outlets reported that she was raped, but due to her cremation on the day of her death, it is difficult to ascertain the truth. Precise confirmation is pending.

According to residents, there is a Rakhine Army (ULA/AA) military base near the area of the incident, in Pan Paung Pyin Village and Kyun Paw Pauk Taw Village. The suspected culprits are said to have been arrested from this camp and are being dealt with by the Fellang Court.

During the investigation, one suspect managed to escape. The teacher community has confirmed that the escaped suspect is from the local community in the Kyun Paw Pauk Taw Village, and is also involved in ULA/AA’s support activities, including fundraising.

However, AA announced that the suspect was recaptured a week later, and investigations are ongoing.

Arakan civil society organizations and the teacher’s family members persistently requested a speedy resolution and truth to emerge. Publications regarding the case continue.

At the beginning of the process, military lobby Telegram channels propagated the phrase “the process of being killed by the fleece,” insinuating the perpetrator to be Muslim, leading to the spreading of pictures of the Rakhine school teacher’s murder by Rohingyas.

However, upon learning that the suspected culprits were not outsiders but influential individuals in the village, known to be confidants of AA and not from the Rohingya community, the blame shifted.

Therefore, at the onset of this process, military support groups in Rakhine, emphasizing ethnic divisions since 2012, likened it to the Mathu Ta Htwe incident in Kyaukni Maw Village, which sparked religious riots. However, upon discovering the suspects were not religiously motivated, a distancing between the Rakhine Army (AA) and the local populace was observed, prompting The Red Flag to document this as a case study.

Actual Date Record:

September 16: The incident occurred in the morning, and the body was discovered in the afternoon.
September 17: AA initiates questioning of suspects and witnesses, and appeals to Rakhine social organizations to disclose the truth.
September 19: AA announces that U Maung Maung Aye, a suspect, has absconded.
September 26: AA announces the recapture of U Maung Maung Aye.
October 1/2 (Present): Currently, U Khaing Thukha states that witnesses related to the case, including the two suspects and an associated individual, are under examination.

Stages of Misinformation Dissemination:

Publication of Rape and Murder Accusations
Date: September 17th, 11:14 in the afternoon

Publisher: Han Nyein Oo (https://t.me/konyein123/1197) (https://archive.ph/1ufqF)

Content: The post alleges that a secondary school teacher in Rati Taung Township was raped and killed by Rohingya individuals (originally referred to as Bengali Kula) associated with the Rakhine Army (AA). It claims that the AA group is actively pursuing and maintaining silence to conceal the identity of the perpetrator. This information was also shared on Facebook.

Analysis: While it is true that a middle school teacher, Daw Shw Yuwqi, was discovered deceased on the morning of September 16th with stab wounds, there is no confirmation regarding the allegation of rape. The Rakhine Army/Rakhine National League (ULA/AA) is investigating to ascertain the facts. Thus, while the report accurately states the occurrence of the killing, attributing it to non-Rakhine individuals and asserting that the AA is covering up the incident appears to be unfounded and potentially motivated by religious and racial biases. This parallels similar incidents in Rakhine State in 2012, such as the killing of Mathita Htwe in Kyaukni Maw Village, suggesting a pattern of misinformation intended to incite racial tensions.

AA’s Public Announcement and Allegations
Date: September 21st, 11:50 p.m.

Publisher: Kyaw Swar (https://t.me/kyawswar96999/45566) (https://archive.ph/IWaCC)

Subject: In Rakhine State, regarding the murder of a teacher, AA is accused of quickly disposing of the body without revealing the true perpetrator. The post includes a photo of a man purported to be the culprit and alleges that various suspects are being exposed while the public is being misled.

According to reports from the Rakhine regional news agency, ULA/AA has been investigating the case for approximately a week. As the perpetrator has not yet been identified, there is criticism on social media and misinformation is circulating. Consequently, family members are demanding prompt identification of the culprit.

Analysis: The post suggests that AA hastily disposed of the victim’s body and is withholding information about the perpetrator. It includes a photo of an individual claimed to be a suspect. However, there is no concrete evidence to support these claims. While it is true that the investigation has been ongoing, attributing nefarious intentions to AA without evidence is speculative. The dissemination of unverified information contributes to the spread of misinformation and further exacerbates tensions in the region.

Allegations of AA Releasing Suspect for Money
Date: September 28th, 12:46 p.m.

Publisher: Min Chit Oo (https://t.me/minchitoo989989/25567) (https://archive.ph/mZsG8)

Subject: In Rakhine State, it is alleged that AA, responsible for apprehending the ULA/AA supporter involved in the killing of a school teacher in Rati Mountain, accepted a bribe of one hundred thousand and released the suspect.

Analysis: The post claims that AA released a suspect in exchange for a bribe, implying corruption within the organization. However, it fails to provide concrete evidence to support this accusation. Reports indicate that U Maung Maung Aye, a suspect in the case, was indeed captured after escaping. While there may be speculation regarding AA’s involvement, attributing corrupt motives without substantiation is unjustified. This post contributes to the spread of unverified information and may further incite tensions in the region.

Here are the writings of some news that were recorded by The Red Flag:

Findings

In the process of the killing, whether rape occurred cannot be identified.
Military supporters are predominantly religious, and they mainly disseminated information in a racially motivated and divisive manner regarding the AA.
Locals claim that the suspects are influential in the community and have ties to the AA.
It was discovered that one of the fugitive suspects had been at the hospital after a dispute with the victim who was murdered.
The judiciary of the AA is being monitored by the people with little hope.
It is known that the AA is handling the situation cautiously.
It was found that the judicial arm of the military council did not participate.
Even the writing and presentation style of the media contribute to conflict.
Following the recapture of the fugitive suspect, releases from the military lobby channels decreased.

Using sensitive religious and ethnic issues as weapons to fuel conflict. This incident clearly demonstrates how individuals and organizations misuse social networking sites to spread propaganda.