Despite such threats, over 300 people have returned with their own arrangement, said Ambassador Hau Do Suan, Permanent Representative of Myanmar to the United Nations.
The remarks came from Statement by Ambassador Hau Do Suan, Permanent Representative of Myanmar to the United Nations on Agenda Item 109 “Measure to Eliminate International Terrorism” at the Sixth Committee of the 74rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly held at UN Headquarters in New York on October 9.
“The security threat posed by ARSA has been a major impediment to the restoration of peace, harmony and stability in Rakhine State. Death threats and intimidation of ARSA against displaced persons in the refugee camps on Bangladesh side had made the repatriation process impossible to commence, said Ambassador Hau Do Suan.
ARSA has never established a single permanent base inside Myanmar since its inceptions. ARSA radicalizes local Muslims and gave them warfare training from abroad. The group usually initiates and organizes terrorist attacks through internet communication such as WhatsApp audio message. Therefore, bilateral and regional cooperation is crucial to effectively control ARSA activities, said Ambassador Hau Do Suan.
Ambassador Hau Do Suan added, “Myanmar has been facing growing security threats of terrorism, particularly from the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA). The present humanitarian crisis in Rakhine State of Myanmar was ignited by the unprovoked armed attacks of ARSA against multiple Myanmar security posts in 2016 and 2017.
“we are concerned about the link between ARSA and international terrorist groups, including FTFs. Since its inception, ARSA has been reportedly guided and supported by foreign terrorists such as Al-Qaeda, ISIL, and Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).”
some FTFs had tried to enter Myanmar territory from one of our neighboring countries in Southeast Asia in an attempt to reinforce ARSA terrorist activities. The latest arrest of ARSA terrorist suspects linking with ISIL in by Malaysian authorities in May and July this year were indisputable evidence of their connection, Ambassador Hau Do Suan.
Any support, including moral support to terrorists especially ARSA terrorist group, explicitly or implicitly, must be avoided, said Ambassador Hau Do Suan.
Ambassador Hau Do Suan continued to say, “My delegation denounces any form of political, diplomatic, moral or material support for terrorism or extremism. We look forward to enhancing our cooperation with the UN Counter Terrorism bodies and with regional and international partners for capacity building, information sharing and combating the threat of international terrorism.”
Edited by WH
