E/CN.4/1993/62 page 71 Summary executions According to the information received, the killing of Muslim civilians by the Myanmar armed forces has occurred also outside the context of forced portering. It has been reported further that many refugees have been executed, even though they had been pressed to ’return’ to Bangladesh. The attention of the Special Rapporteur has been drawn to the following specific incidents: Mohammad Shah, 30, reports that on 3 January 1992, a group of about 200 Muslims from Azarbil, Maungdaw township, had decided to leave Myanmar for Bangladesh. A day later, a villager informed him that his uncle, who was in the group, was detained at the Napru military camp. He went to the camp but was unable to obtain any news about his uncle. He recalled distinctly, however, that he had heard the screams of women from buildings in the camp. On 5 January, Mohammad Shah discovered his uncle’s body near their village. No marks of abuse were evident. He found four female bodies the following day and recognized them as his neighbours who had joined the group that had left for the border. A number of survivors of the killing who had been detained at the camp or in Maungdaw prison confirmed that his neighbors had been killed but declined to discuss the matter further, as they were released on the promise of keeping silent. On 9 February 1992, Myanmar security forces are reported to have killed at least 20 Muslims who were attempting to cross the Naaf River into Bangladesh a few days earlier. Thirty-five others reportedly died as a result of drowning. Eyewitnesses have allegedly indicated that scores of people attempting to flee were deliberately killed on the boats by members of the security forces and by Rakhine civilians whom the security forces did not attempt to restrain. Between 100 and 150 persons were reportedly arrested by the Lone Htein and were not heard of again. A boatman is reported to have seen soldiers shoot at three boats carrying refugees crossing the Puyuma canal which joins the Naaf River at Okpyuma village, killing approximately 40 people. Hafez Ahmad, 32, the owner of a small shop in Tongbazar village, Buthidaung township, reported that when he left for Bangladesh along with 1,500 villagers on 20 February 1992, soldiers had encouraged them to go. They travelled 40 kilometers to the Ghacharibil Crossing on the Naaf River, where they hired about 20 boats to take them across. There were 20 to 25 soldiers at the river and they began taking money and jewellery from the refugees. The soldiers are said to have become increasingly hostile and began to take even clothes and rice. Finally, they began snatching the smallest children from their parent’s arms and swinging them ’like sacks’ by their ankles, beating their heads time and again against the river bank. Hafez Ahmad saw approximately 10 children killed in this way. The soldiers later shot at the boats crossing the river, sinking one and injuring many refugees. Fatema Khatun, 30, reported that on 26 February 1992, she and her family had left Goalangi village, Buthidaung township, along with a group of 600 to 700 other people. On 3 March, as they came near the Daijarkhal river, they were surrounded by 40 to 50 armed soldiers. Fatema Khatun and her son who had been wounded had fallen behind and went unnoticed. Suddenly, the soldiers