Myanmar dismisses general accused of ethnic cleansing
Myanmar has dismissed an army general accused of ethnic cleansing against the Rohingya in August last year.
Major General Maung Maung Soe is one of the seven military and police officers sanctioned by the European Union.
"Maj-Gen Maung Maung Soe, who is among seven military officers officers on the EU list, was dismissed from service by the Tatmadaw (army) on Monday," reported Myanmar Times today, quoting a statement by the office of Myanmar's commander-in-chief as saying.
The major general had already been placed on the list of reserves before his dismissal.
The main reason behind Maj Gen Maung Maung Soe's expulsion from military service was said "poor performance" in managing "security plans" under the emergency in the aftermath of attacks by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army on police and military outposts in October 2016 and August 2017 in northern Rakhine State.
Over 700,000 Rohingya have fled Myanmar following the August violence in Rakhine state last year. Thousands were alleged to be killed, their houses burned and women raped.
The statement also said Lt-Gen Aung Kyaw Zaw, the highest ranking military officer sanctioned by the EU, who was also responsible for overseeing security operations in Rakhine was suffering from poor health and was allowed to resign over a month ago.
The Tatmadaw statement came hours after the EU said in a statement it had slapped sanctions for alleged human rights violations on the seven senior military and police officers who served in Rakhine during the past two years.
The EU alleged the officers were responsible for atrocities and rights abuses such as unlawful killings, sexual violence, and burning of houses and buildings owned by Muslims there.
Among the other military officers sanctioned were Brig Gen Than Oo, commander of the 99th Light Infantry Division, which operated in the area last year; Brig Gen Aung Aung, commander of the 33rd Light Infantry Division; and Maj-Gen Khin Maung Soe, head of the 15th Light Infantry Division.
The two police officers on the list are Brig Gen Thura San Lwin, chief of the Border Guard Police of Rakhine from October 2016 to October 2017, and U Thant Zin Oo, commander of the 8th Security Police Battalion, which was involved in the security operation in the state in the last half of 2017.
The EU said the officers were overseeing certain military commands and police forces from 2016 to 2017, when alleged accusations of major human rights violations against the Tatmadaw emerged.
The sanctions will freeze the assets of the officers and prohibit them from travelling to any member state of the EU.
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