Rohingya militiamen, trained, armed and deployed by the Junta, have escalated attacks on the Arakha Army (AA) in Buthidaung and Maungdaw townships of Rakhine State, AA announced against the backdrop of the Junta’s ever- more desperate fight to maintain their few remaining townships still under their control.
Conflicts in Rakhine State, which reignited on November 13, remains intense. AA has seized control of 9 townships and continues to actively engage the Junta in offensive operations across Buthidaung, Maungdaw, Ann, Taungup, Thandwe, and Kyaukphyu.
The AA offensive has been closing in on the state capital of Sittwe and also moving closer to taking control over the huge strategic asset of the deep-water port at Kyaukphyu.
AA ‘s potential to capture the port has also trigger China’s deep concern over the stability of their most important BRI investment in Myanmar in the special economic zone, and their oil and gas pipelines running from its border city of Ruili through northern Shan State, Mandalay and Magwe regions to Rakhine on the Bay of Bengal. The AA has been reassuring China that their economic investments will be safe if they take control.
AA's statement on April 26 reported an increase in attacks by Muslim terrorist bodies, operating either independently or in collaboration with the Junta forces, targeting the AA.
Ro Nay San Lwin, co-founder of the Free Rohingya Coalition (FRC), defended fellow Muslims, highlighting that they were forcibly subjected to short term military training, armed, and sent to the frontlines by the Junta, often exploited as human shields.
"The Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) and the Arakan Rohingya Army (ARA) have not denied their collaboration with the Junta. It is important to note they do not speak for the Rohingya community.”
In Buthidaung and Maungdaw, houses belonging to non-Muslims were burned and looted, along with ongoing violence that poses a daily threat to the security, lives, and property of the Rakhine people. As a consequence, AA has declared a curfew since the end of last week.
"Currently only the Junta troops and their Muslim militias are left in the town. They are destroying houses and breaking into them whenever they want. The Junta has armed these Muslim proxies ,which is a cause of concern for civilians like us”, a Buthidaung resident said.
According to some political analysts the Rohingya armed groups ARSA and ARA are fully aligned with the Junta’s strategy to prevent AA from gaining more influence in Rakhine State.
“It is possible that some Muslims joined the Junta after being promised citizenship or other rights. AA is working towards positive changes and is carefully managing the situation to prevent ethnic conflicts. Therefore it is important for the Muslim community to consider the current situation wisely, and avoid being used and exploited by the Junta”, a Rakhine political analyst urged.
In Buthidaung and Maungdaw, human rights groups say the organized rallies and protests of some Rohingya against the AA have a regularly orchestrated by the Junta.
