AA and ARSA bases in Bangladesh: Presidential Spokesperson

AA and ARSA bases in Bangladesh: Presidential Spokesperson
The press briefing held on January 7 2019 at the President's Office, Nay Pyi Taw.
The press briefing held on January 7 2019 at the President's Office, Nay Pyi Taw.
Published 7 January 2019

 

During a press brief regarding the recent attacks on police outposts in Buthidaung Township, Rakhine State, Spokesperson for the President’s Office Zaw Htay claimed that there are bases where the Arakan Army(AA) insurgents and ARSA terrorist group operate out of in Bangladesh.

Zaw Htay said, in response to a question posed by a journalist on rumors circulating that AA has been colluding with ARSA at the press briefing held on January 7 at the President’s Office in Nay Pyi Taw, “On the side of Bangladesh, there are two AA and three ARSA bases. The military had made formal complaints to the Bangladesh military diplomats regarding this. We are also trying to send in our dissent against these organizations operating on Bangladeshi land and sowing chaos within Myanmar. But since it is not within our territory, we are having a hard time routing out the threats as they would retreat back over the border if anything. The ARSA is a terror group. In the past, not only Rakhine ethnics but Mro and Dinet ethnics have suffered at their hands of ARSA so if there is any cooperation going on between them, we want it stopped immediately. Even if there isn’t any cooperation, the AA should avoid anything that would help the ARSA whether in terms of politics or military power.”

He went on to state that the AA should step up, like other ethnic communities across Myanmar, to the political dialogues and stop any activities that would help terror groups.

“Our advice is for them to step up from just negotiations with the peace commission to the political dialogues and fight for their ethnic rights, just like the other ethnicities. But we want all acts that help terror organizations by being in collusion with them or not. That includes everyone from civilians, well respected individuals to the monks. Please think carefully of the future of the Rakhine State and what will the after effects of such actions be for the stability and durability of the state. We are one with the military on this and with the decision on launching offensives on insurgent territory,” said Zaw Htay.

He also went on the state that they had received news that the AA and the ARSA had split the portions of the Mayu Mountain Range into western portion for the ARSA and eastern for the AA.

“There is some news that we don’t release to the public such as that we received news that the AA and ARSA had met at Rabul, Bangladesh on January 23. We investigated why the meeting was held and learnt that it was in order to divvy up territories. Our source tells us that Maungdaw, Buthidaung, Yathedaung and other areas in general at the western portion of the Mayu Mountain Range would be for ARSA while the eastern part will be for the AA to operate on.

The other point of discussion, according to another source, was about their lucrative primary business of drug trade. Benefits they get from their cooperation would be split up between them, which will all eventually coalesce into AA’s vision of an independent Rakhine Country with a portion such as the Mayu District given for ARSA to control.

So they are coordinating their attacks. There are criticisms on Social Media that those attacks were definitely a coordinated effort between the AA and the ARSA. Our on-ground news also come from different sources so it seems like this is a result of the meeting AA and ARSA held on January 23 in Rabul, Bangladesh. We want to question the AA as to why they are doing this. Peace dialogues invitation has been extended to them. We want to urge the Rakhine ethnics seemingly in support of the AA to weigh both positive and negative effects it will have on Rakhine State,” said the spokesperson.

He commented that the attacks orchestrated on four police outposts, set up to guard against possible attacks by ARSA, by the AA on January 4th, Myanmar’s Independence Day, was an act of betrayal – “a stab in the back”.

Due to the attacks, 13 Border Guard Force (BGF) members lost their lives while nine received injuries. The wounded are still being treated at the Maungdaw Hospital.

At the end of August 2017, ARSA launched attacks on 13 police outposts in Rakhine, which also saw the deaths of several BGF policemen.