Myanmar’s human rights body said it will not investigate the case of 17 villagers allegedly abducted by the government military nine months ago in Rakhine state, RFA reported.

Hla Myint, chairman of the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC), said his office has declined a request by concerned lawmakers from the area where the villagers were abducted because he and other members of the body accept as truthful a Ministry of Defense statement on Oct. 22,
denying that the military had arrested and detained the civilians.

Hla Myint also said that the commission could not conduct an investigation at present due to official restrictions on travel and gatherings to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic still raging through Myanmar.