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Around 1.2 million Rohingyas have fled atrocities in Myanmar and taken shelter in Bangladesh. More are fleeing amid conflicts between the military and the Arakan Army rebel group.
Despite escalating violence, the Myanmar military seeks legitimacy by organising military-controlled elections, Turk said.
“The people of Myanmar demand justice, peace, and democratic civilian-run institutions. Conditions do not exist for free and representative elections. I echo ASEAN’s view that de-escalation and humanitarian access are the way out of this crisis, not elections,” he said.
The UN rights chief also said humanitarian access must be ensured, and parties in Rakhine must respect provisional measures imposed by the International Court of Justice to protect Rohingya lives.
Turk highlighted that civilians throughout Myanmar are suffering severe consequences.
Since the 2021 coup, over 7,000 civilians have been killed and some 30,000 arrested for political reasons. In August alone, 277 civilians were reported killed.
Some 350,000 people have been displaced in Rakhine and Chin States since November 2023, with 150,000 more Rohingyas seeking refuge in Bangladesh.
Turk said the long-standing persecution of the Muslim Rohingya minority has intensified. Armed groups, including the Arakan Army, have joined attacks on civilians.
Eight years after the Myanmar military massacred tens of thousands of Rohingya, the Arakan Army now controls nearly all of Rakhine State, committing killings, abductions, torture, forced recruitment, and village burnings.
On August 5-6, 2024, drones and artillery strikes killed hundreds of Rohingya attempting to flee across the Naf River, the UN rights chief said.
As the military loses ground, it increasingly targets civilians through aerial attacks and other human rights violations. Rohingya armed groups have also committed abuses, including killings, forced recruitment, and displacement.
Turk reiterated call for the UN Security Council to refer Myanmar’s situation to International Criminal Court.