[🇧🇩] Insurgencies in Myanmar. Implications for Bangladesh

[Saif]

Keeping tabs on Myanmar events

Amid media reports that the ethnic Arakan Army (AA) has seized control of the Buthidaung Township of the Rakhine State near Bangladesh border with the Myanmar junta's army in full retreat, the Asian Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) has called upon the United Nations, ASEAN and wider interna

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Keeping tabs on Myanmar events
SYED FATTAHUL ALIM
Published :
May 19, 2024 22:00
Updated :
May 19, 2024 22:00

Amid media reports that the ethnic Arakan Army (AA) has seized control of the Buthidaung Township of the Rakhine State near Bangladesh border with the Myanmar junta's army in full retreat, the Asian Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) has called upon the United Nations, ASEAN and wider international community to take urgent steps to prevent mass killing of Rohingya population now under siege by the AA. APHR said that since Friday (May 17), Rohingya civilians in Buthidaung town and surrounding villages have been under heavy gunfire and arson attack on houses by AA.

This raises fresh concern about the fate of the Rohingya population who remained in the Rakhine state of Myanmar following 2017's massacre at the hands of the Myanmar army that led to more than 700,000 of Rohingya fleeing to Bangladesh. In February this year, the Human Rights Watch (HRW) urged both the Myanmar security forces and the AA to take immediate measures to minimise harm to Rohingya and other civilians caught in the crossfire following the resumption of armed hostilities between AA and Tatmadaw (Myanmar military) after a yearlong unofficial ceasefire. Myanmar junta's attitude towards the Rohingya is well-known. They would miss no opportunity to abuse, torture and kill the Rhingya people. Alarming reports were already coming from foreign media sources on how the Tatmadaw was orchestrating Rohingya protest against the AA. A news website, The Irrawaddy, run by Myanmarese exiles based in Thailand, in its March 22 report said how the Tatmadaw was trying to sow seeds of ethnic discord in the Rakhine state. Tatmadaw was rounding up Rohingya villagers and forcing them to stage demonstrations against the AA and using those fake demos through the propaganda media under Myanmar military's control. It is not that the AA is unaware of it. Even so, this age-old policy of playing one social group against another works and can cause the intended damage. To all appearances, the damage has been done. The Rohingya are now facing two adversaries at the moment-the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army (AA). In this connection, the chief of the UN Human Rights,Volker Türk, last month warned that intensified fighting in the Rakhine State between the military and the AA was fuelling tension between the Rohingya and the ethnic Rakhine communities (majority of them being Buddhist) fearing that past atrocities might be repeated. Notably, even during 2017's Rohingya massacre members of the majority Rakhine ethnic community took part in the attacks on Rohingya population alongside the Myanmar military. As reported in April 2024 from UN sources, 15 out of 17 townships of the Rakhine State were affected by the fighting resulting in hundreds of deaths and injuries and displacement of about 300,00 people. Being mainly Rohingya-dominated areas, they were obviously facing a grave risk. That was more so because, outraged by their defeat at the hands of the AA, the Myanmar military was forcibly conscripting, bribing and coercing the Rohingya men to join their ranks. That was evidently the cause for resentment of the AA and the majority ethnic group of Rakhine State against the Rohingya. Understandably, the development prompted the UN Human Rights chief to warn the international communities against the repeat of 2017 against the Rohingya community.

The Rohingya people are indeed caught between a rock and a hard place. It is unfortunate that though the Rohingya community constitutes the second largest chunk of the Rakhine State's population after the Buddhist Rakhines, they are the worst victims of persecution in that country. What is troubling is that unless there is any rapprochement between the Rohingya people still residing in the Rakhine State and the AA, we might again witness another wave of these people seeking refuge in Bangladesh because of the persecution.

In this context, can we expect any result from the call the Human Rights bodies including Parliamentarians from Southeast Asia has made urging UN bodies, international community and influential countries of the region to prevail upon the warring ethnic groups like the AA and the Myanmar regime for not starting another round of extermination campaign against the remaining Rohingya population in the Rakhine State of Myanmar? Since APHR has already (on May 18) reported on the indiscriminate attack by the Arakan Army on the besieged Rohingya population in the northern Rakine State, it is clear that the Myanmar military has succeeded in its mission to finish the task of annihilating the Rohingya from Myanmar's soil. It does not matter who does the work for them.

Already overburdened with all the Rohingya refugees that came here since 1970s, let alone the influxes of the 1990s and 2017, any fresh inrush of refugees would be the straw that broke the proverbial camel's back. With the situation in neighbouring Myanmar going from bad to worse every passing day, the prospect of repatriating Rohingya refugees to their homeland is getting dimmer. For any negotiation towards Rohingya repatriation to take place would require a stable government in Naypyidaw. So, there is no scope on Bangladesh's part to sit out the ongoing crisis in Myanmar. Strong diplomatic efforts keeping backchannels open would be required to watch over developments as well as making deals with emerging forces in Myanmar. This is not just for an amicable settlement of the refugee issue. The government has also a huge stake in seeing that we have a friendly neighbour on the Southeastern border.​

 

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Myanmar rebels take on army in brutal civil war.

 

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Cox's Bazar Rohingya camp: 230 makeshift shelters burnt in fire

Around 230 makeshift shelters and 100 establishments were burnt as a fire broke out in a refugee camp in Ukhiya upazila of Cox's Bazar today

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Cox's Bazar Rohingya camp: 230 makeshift shelters burnt in fire

Photo: Collected

Around 230 makeshift shelters and 100 establishments were burnt as a fire broke out in a refugee camp in Ukhiya upazila of Cox's Bazar today.

Apart from this, over 200 other makeshift shelters were damaged due to the fire, said Shafiqul Islam, station officer of Ukhiya fire service. At least 10 people sustained injuries while trying to escape, he added.

The fire broke out at camp-13 in Tanzimarkhola area around 11:00am, Mohammad Samsudduza, additional Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commission, confirmed to our Cox's Bazar staff correspondent.

The fire originated from a warehouse of a non-government organisation, he added.

However, the reason behind the fire could not be known immediately.

Shafiqul said fire fighters from Ukhiya and Cox's Bazar and some volunteers doused the blaze around 1:00pm.

Many people became homeless after the fire ripped through their shelters, he also said.

A local NGO claimed that at least 4,000 Rohingyas became homeless due to the fire.​

To read the rest of the news, please click on the link above.

 

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EU, US, others alarmed at ‘increasing harm to civilians’ in Myanmar

The EU, United States and other countries jointly voiced alarm on Friday at the worsening conflict in Myanmar and the ‘increasing harm to civilians’ it was bringing...

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EU, US, others alarmed at 'increasing harm to civilians' in Myanmar
Agence France-Presse . Brussels 24 May, 2024, 23:35

The EU, United States and other countries jointly voiced alarm on Friday at the worsening conflict in Myanmar and the 'increasing harm to civilians' it was bringing.

They particularly expressed concern at reports tens of thousands of civilians in Rakhine State — where the Rohingya minority live — have been forced to flee their homes, and called on 'all armed actors to ensure the protection of civilians'.

The signatories of the joint statement — the EU, United States, Australia, Britain, Canada, South Korea, New Zealand, Norway and Switzerland — stressed 'there must be accountability for all atrocities committed in Myanmar'.

Earlier Friday, the United Nations warned that escalating fighting in Rakhine had forced around 45,000 Rohingya to flee, amid allegations of killings and burnings of property.

Clashes have rocked the state since the Arakan Army, which says it is fighting to deliver more autonomy to its ethnic Rakhine population, attacked ruling junta forces in November, ending a ceasefire that had largely held since a military coup in 2021.

The signatories to the statement said they were 'deeply concerned by the escalating conflict in Myanmar and in particular the increasing harm to civilians, which are driving a worsening and devastating human rights and humanitarian crisis across the country'.

They pointed to credible reports of civilians being targeted and of torture, the use of civilians as human shields, and sexual violence against women and children.

They blamed the government for food and water shortages and cut-off access for medical and other aid.

'In Rakhine State, towns and villages have been consistently targeted by the military regime and armed groups,' the statement said.

'Reports of forced recruitment, including of Rohingya, is further dividing communities and exploiting tensions and mistrust. All populations are facing extreme levels of food insecurity.

'The situation is increasingly dangerous for all civilians, including Rakhine, Rohingya and other ethnic communities,' it said.

The EU, United States and their allies behind the statement urged an immediate end to the violence, and for other countries to stop sending military supplies, including aviation fuel, to Myanmar.

They also called for the release of arbitrarily detained prisoners and for dialogue 'so that democracy can be restored in full'.​

 

[Saif]

45,000 flee in fear of beheading, burning

Breaking News, International News & Multimedia

thedailynewnation.com

45,000 flee in fear of beheading, burning
26 May 2024, 12:00 am

Al Jazeera :

Escalating violence in conflict-torn Myanmar's Rakhine State has forced another 45,000 minority Rohingya to flee, the United Nations warned, amid allegations of beheadings, killings and burnings of property.

Clashes have rocked Rakhine State since the Arakan Army (AA) rebels attacked forces of the ruling military government in November, ending a ceasefire that had largely held since a military coup in 2021.

The fighting has caught in the middle the Muslim minority group, long considered outsiders by the majority Buddhist residents, either from the government or the rebel side.

The AA says it is fighting for more autonomy for the ethnic Rakhine population in the state, which is also home to an estimated 600,000 members of the persecuted Rohingya Muslim minority, who have chosen to remain in the country.

To read the rest of the news, please click on the link above.​

 

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Foreign fighters in Myanmar: Implications for the region

In almost all conflict zones mercenaries actively aid one side or the other

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Foreign fighters in Myanmar: Implications for the region

Volunteer members of Karenni insurgent forces walk in Moe Bye in Kayah State, Myanmar on November 12, 2023.

Al-Jazeera came out with a piece of news on May 17, titled "Western volunteers join the battle against Myanmar's military regime." The news otherwise heralds a new dimension to the three-year-old civil conflict in Myanmar. But more importantly, it sounds almost like a repetition of what happened earlier in Afghanistan, which also saw a flow of Western (and Eastern) volunteers before the United States intervened militarily, which, in the end, killed thousands of Afghans and devastated the country. However, following the military intervention, the US government spent $2.26 trillion, with the most significant portion—nearly $1 trillion—consumed by the Overseas Contingency Operations budget for the Department of Defense, mainly to benefit the country's military-industrial complex. Should the news then concern the countries in the region that something similar is in the offing in Myanmar, unless contained in its infancy?

The question merits attention for two reasons. Firstly, the NUG/PDF, in its conflict against the Myanmar military or Tatmadaw, is overtly and covertly supported by the Western powers, including the US. Secondly, the Burma Act, declared by the US in April 2022, gave "discretionary authority" to the US president to interpret the act liberally, mainly when providing military aid to ethnic armed organisations (EAOs). Both reasons, in combination, probably encouraged Western volunteers to slip into Myanmar for adventure, dedication, and profit, albeit taking advantage of the US' concern for civil rights in Myanmar, notwithstanding its lopsidedness and naïveté.

It is crucial to keep in mind here that having "foreign fighters" or mercenaries in conflict zones is not out of the norm. Instead, it has become the rule. In almost all conflict zones, whether Congo or Ukraine, mercenaries actively aid one side or the other. Apart from foreign mercenaries, there are also native mercenaries who are exploiting and profiting from the situation. One good example would be the Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF), the banned ethno-nationalist armed militant group in Bangladesh based in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Recently, they trained and supplied weapons not to their people but to the members of Jama'atul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya, an Islamist militant group.

To read the rest of the news, please click on the link above.​

 

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WB to give $400m loan, $300m grant for Rohingya, hosts

World Bank (WB) yesterday approved two projects totalling $700 million to provide basic services and build disaster and social resilience for both the displaced Rohingya population in Bangladesh and the host communities.

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WB to give $400m loan, $300m grant for Rohingya, hosts

Rohingya refugee children walk along the road at Balukhali camp in Cox's Bazar. The World Bank provided $590 million in grants since the onset of the Rohingya crisis. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE

World Bank (WB) yesterday approved two projects totalling $700 million to provide basic services and build disaster and social resilience for both the displaced Rohingya population in Bangladesh and the host communities.

Of the amount, $407.50 million is in the form of a loan and the remaining $292.50 million a grant, according to a WB appraisal document.

The $407.50 million loan will be the first of its kind by the global lender since the onset of the Rohingya crisis.

The loan will have an interest rate of two percent and a repayment period of 30 years, including an eight-year grace period, said an Economic Relations Division official.

According to a WB press release, the lender provided $590 million in grants since the onset of the Rohingya crisis.

The two projects are underpinned by the lessons learned through the previous interventions, as well as learnings from forced displacement crises around the world, it read.

According to the WB appraisal document, the financing has been a critical complement to the humanitarian response, which has been declining.

An annual "Joint Response Plan (JRP) for the Rohingya Humanitarian Crisis", managed by the Bangladesh government and United Nations partners, coordinates financing for critical humanitarian services for the displaced Rohingya population and host communities.

The 2023 JRP needed $876 million but was able to gather only 49 percent of it as of December 2023, says the document.

This led to a reduction in food assistance provided by World Food Programme, for which an estimated 78 percent of the displaced Rohingya population did not have sufficient food in 2023.

Earlier in November 2022, it was estimated to be 44 percent.

The press release says the WB has helped the displaced Rohingya population and host communities on disaster preparedness, basic infrastructure, social protection, collaborative forest management, and income generation opportunities for the host communities.

"We greatly appreciate the Government of Bangladesh's generosity in supporting nearly one million Rohingya people. We also recognise the enormous pressure placed on the host communities," said Abdoulaye Seck, World Bank country director for Bangladesh and Bhutan.

To read the rest of the news, please click on the link above.​

 

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Rohingya camps risk turning into a terrorist hub: home minister

'If the Rohingyas are not repatriated soon, dissatisfaction may turn this place [Rohingya camps] into a potential hub for international terrorists,' says Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal

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Rohingya camps risk turning into a terrorist hub: home minister

Photo: Collected

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal today said the Rohingya camps risk turning into a potential hub for international terrorists if the persecuted citizens of Myanmar are not repatriated to their country soon.

"If the Rohingyas are not repatriated soon, dissatisfaction may turn this place [Rohingya camps] into a potential hub for international terrorists. We are finding some evidence in support of this," he said while visiting a camp this morning, reports our Cox's Bazar staff correspondent.

He said actions are being taken against those in the camps who got involved in drug trafficking and criminal activities.

The home minister reached Camp 19 at Ukhiya around 11:00am today and held a meeting with Armed Police Battalion (APBn) members. Later, he observed various activities at the camp.

The minister was accompanied by Bangladesh Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun, Additional IGP Anwar Hossain, APBn chief Salim Mohammad Jahangir, and Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner Mizanur Rahman.

The home minister is in Cox's Bazar on a two-day trip. During the trip, he held several meetings with different stakeholders about the Rohingya camp issues.

The minister last night chaired a meeting on the Rohingya camps' law and order situation at Hilltop Circuit House in Cox's Bazar.​

 

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WFP increases food rations again for Rohingya in Cox’s Bazar

Starting June 1, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) will partially increase food rations for all Rohingya in Cox’s Bazar camps, raising the entitlement from US$10 to US$11 per person per month. This marks the second increase this year and a step closer to reaching the full ration

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

WFP increases food rations again for Rohingya in Cox's Bazar
UNB
Published :
May 31, 2024 23:00
Updated :
May 31, 2024 23:00

Reuters file pjoto

Starting June 1, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) will partially increase food rations for all Rohingya in Cox's Bazar camps, raising the entitlement from US$10 to US$11 per person per month.

This marks the second increase this year and a step closer to reaching the full ration target of US$12.50 by August.

In addition to the monetary increase, WFP has included fortified rice in its food assistance since the beginning of this year.

Locally procured and fortified, this rice has significantly higher nutritional value than regular rice, containing essential vitamins and micronutrients critical to people's health and well-being.

Coverage of this enhanced assistance has already reached 100 per cent of the Rohingya population in Cox's Bazar, said WFP on Friday.

In 2023, faced with an unprecedented funding crisis, WFP had to cut its food assistance from the full entitlement at the time of US$12 to US$8, leaving the Rohingya with just 25 cents to meet their daily food needs.

While a partial increase was made at the beginning of this year, from US$8 to US$10, consequences of hunger and malnutrition persisted, exacerbating the already dire situation in the camps.

By November, 90 per cent of the population could not afford an adequate diet, up from 80 per cent in June.

The nutritional status among children deteriorated rapidly, with the global acute malnutrition (GAM) rate rising to 15.1 per cent, exceeding the WHO emergency threshold and the highest rate recorded since 2017.

"It is imperative that we return to full rations as soon as possible. Doing so will not only address the immediate suffering but also reduce the strain on other critical programmes, such as protection, health, education, shelter, cooking gas – many of which now face severe funding cuts," said Dom Scalpelli, WFP Country Director for Bangladesh.

To escape the hardships in the camps, nearly 4,500 Rohingya risked their lives at sea in 2023, some 569 of them died or went missing along the journey – the most since 2014.

In the camps, the security situation has deteriorated. In recent months, violent incidents occurred nearly daily in the camps, with alleged abductions and forced recruitment of men by military groups being a major concern.

To read the rest of the news, please click on the link above.​

 

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FM calls for coordinated efforts to resolve Rohingya crisis

Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud has called for addressing the ongoing conflict in Rakhine state and taking a coordinated international action to repatriate Rohingyas to Myanmar from Bangladesh. The foreign minister, who is now in the United States on a three-day official visit, made the appea

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

FM calls for coordinated efforts to resolve Rohingya crisis

Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud has called for addressing the ongoing conflict in Rakhine state and taking a coordinated international action to repatriate Rohingyas to Myanmar from Bangladesh.

The foreign minister, who is now in the United States on a three-day official visit, made the appeal during four separate meetings at the UN Headquarters in New York on Friday, BSS reported on Saturday citing a foreign ministry's press release in Dhaka.

During the meeting with United Nations General Assembly President Dennis Francis, Dr Mahmud said when about one million people fled to Bangladesh to escape violence in Myanmar, the people of Cox's Bazar and Chattogram received them with compassion.

"But gradually the Rohingyas are getting employment in different places out of the camps and the camps have become a haven for various crimes including human trafficking, drug smuggling, terrorism. As a result, the locals are passing a very difficult time," he added.

During his meeting with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi, Hasan said apart from the Rohingyas, since last February, about 750 members of the Myanmar Border Guard Police and Army have fled to Bangladesh at various times.

Most of them have been sent back, and the rest are in the process of being returned.

"Not only that, the shells of the conflicting groups in Myanmar also caused casualties in Bangladesh. It is absolutely necessary to prevent the recurrence of these," Hasan said.

In a meeting with the UN Secretary General's Special Envoy for Myanmar, the former foreign minister of Australia, Julie Bishop, Mahmud said that the ongoing conflict situation in Myanmar is not a new phenomenon and it should not be given an opportunity to be used as an excuse against Rohingya repatriation.

Earlier, Bangladesh's foreign minister addressed a session titled "Crisis, Conflicts, and Inter-Agency Collaboration: Nexus Approach" at the UN Headquarters.

The session was attended by heads of six UN agencies, including UNDP, UNFPA, UNOPS, UN Women, and deputy chiefs of UNICEF and WFP.

To read the rest of the news, please click on the link above.​

 

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undefined | The Financial Express

www.thefinancialexpress.com.bd

মিয়ানমার সীমান্তে মাইন বিস্ফোরণে গুরুতর আহত বাংলাদেশি যুবক
Published: February 25, 2023 22:13:14

বান্দরবানের নাইক্ষ্যংছড়ি উপজেলা সীমান্তের মিয়ানমার অংশে মাইন বিস্ফোরণে এক বাংলাদেশি নাগরিক গুরুতর আহত হয়েছেন।

শনিবার বিকালে উপজেলার সদর ইউনিয়নের চাকঢালা এলাকার জামছড়ি সীমান্তের ওপারে মিয়ানমারের অভ্যন্তরে সালুডং এলাকায় এ ঘটনা ঘটে বলে নাইক্ষ্যংছড়ি উপজেলা নির্বাহী কর্মকর্তা (ইউএনও) রোমেন শর্মা জানান। খবর বিডিনিউজ টোয়েন্টিফোর ডটকমের।

আহত গোলাম আকবর (২৫) নাইক্ষ্যংছড়ি সদর ইউনিয়নের চাকঢালা জামছড়ি এলাকার ছৈয়দ আজিমের ছেলে।

ইউএনও রোমেন শর্মা বলেন, "জামছড়ি সংলগ্ন ৪৫ সীমান্ত পিলার এলাকায় মিয়ানমারের অভ্যন্তরে বাংলাদেশি তিন থেকে চারজন কাঠ সংগ্রহে যান। এক পর্যায়ে পুঁতে রাখা স্থলমাইন বিস্ফোরণে আকবর আহত হন।

"সঙ্গীরা আকবরকে উদ্ধার করে নাইক্ষ্যংছড়ি উপজেলা স্বাস্থ্য কমপ্লেক্সে নিয়ে আসে। এ সময় অবস্থা আশঙ্কাজনক হওয়ায় চিকিৎসক তাকে কক্সবাজার জেলা সদর হাসপাতালে স্থানান্তর করেন।"

কক্সবাজার জেলা সদর হাসপাতাল পুলিশ ফাঁড়ির সদস্য মো. রিপন চৌধুরী বলেন, "সন্ধ্যায় মাইন বিস্ফোরণে আহত এক যুবককে হাসপাতালে আনা হয়েছে। চিকিৎসক জানিয়েছেন, বিস্ফোরণে ওই যুবকের বাম পায়ের গোড়ালি সম্পূর্ণ উড়ে গেছে। এ ছাড়া স্পর্শকাতর অঙ্গসহ শরীরের বিভিন্ন অংশে গুরুতর জখমের চিহ্ন রয়েছে।"

এদিকে নাইক্ষ্যংছড়ি থানার ওসি নান্টু সাহা বলেন, "জামছড়ি সীমান্ত দিয়ে মিয়ানমারের ওপার থেকে চোরাই গরু আনতে যান আকবর। সেখানে মাইন বিস্ফোরণে বাম পায়ের গোড়ালিতে গুরুতর আহত হন।"​

 

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No more structures in Rohingya camps: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said the government will not allow new structures in Rohingya camps

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No more structures in Rohingya camps: PM

Photo: PID

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said the government will not allow new structures in Rohingya camps.

"It would not be wise to allow new structures in Rohingya camps in Cox's Bazar as it has already caused enough ecological imbalance due to massive deforestation," she said.

The PM said this while Japanese Special Envoy for National Reconciliation in Myanmar Yohei Sasakawa called on her at her official residence Gono Bhaban.

The PM's speech writer Md Nazrul Islam briefed reporters after the call on. Hasina said if Rohingyas are taken to Bhashan Char from Cox's Bazar, their quality of life will improve.

She sought the Nippon Foundation chairman's support for the repatriation Rohingyas to Myanmar.

Yohei Sasakawa lauded the accommodation facilities of Rohingyas in Bhashan Char, and said that Nippon Foundation is keen to providing training to the Rohingyas to boost their income as well as education to Rohingya children.​

 

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Arsa leader among five arrested in Cox’s Bazar

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has arrested five people, including a top-level leader of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (Arsa), from the Rohingya camp in Ukhiya of Cox’s Bazar. They were arrested during a drive, conducted by RAB-15, in the early hours of Monday. The arrested Arsa leader wa

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Arsa leader among five arrested in Cox's Bazar
Published :
Jun 10, 2024 12:56
Updated :
Jun 10, 2024 12:56

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has arrested five people, including a top-level leader of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (Arsa), from the Rohingya camp in Ukhiya of Cox's Bazar.
They were arrested during a drive, conducted by RAB-15, in the early hours of Monday. The arrested Arsa leader was identified as Maulvi Akiz.

Abu Salam Chowdhury, Additional Superintendent of Police and Senior Assistant Director (Law and Media) of RAB-15, confirmed the matter.

The elite force also recovered a cache of weapons, ammunition, and explosives during the drive.​

 

[Saif]

Myanmar junta orders evacuations around Sittwe

Myanmar’s junta has ordered thousands of people living outside a state capital threatened by ethnic rebels to leave their homes and head into the...

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Myanmar junta orders evacuations around Sittwe
Agence France-Presse . Yangon 15 June, 2024, 00:25

Myanmar's junta has ordered thousands of people living outside a state capital threatened by ethnic rebels to leave their homes and head into the city, residents said on Friday.

Sittwe city is one of the few holdouts for junta troops in western Rakhine state, where the military has lost swathes of territory to the Arakan Army in recent weeks.

The AA, which says it is fighting for autonomy for the state's ethnic Rakhine population, has vowed to capture Sittwe, home to an India-backed deep sea port and around 2,00,000 people.

Residents of 15 villages around Sittwe were given five days to leave their homes and move to the state capital, a resident of one of the villages said.

'The army threatened to shoot and kill if they found someone after the deadline' which expires on Saturday, she said.

A resident of Sittwe put the number of villages ordered to evacuate at around 10, saying that residents had been told 'to move out for security reasons' by Saturday.

The villages were home to around 3,500 people, the Sittwe resident said, requesting anonymity.

They added the military had not arranged for temporary shelters in Sittwe.

'People have to move to their relatives' homes from other villages,' they said.

Local media also reported the order to evacuate villages in the area.

AFP was unable to reach a junta spokesman for comment.

In November, the AA launched a wave of attacks on the military across Rakhine, shattering a ceasefire that had largely held since the military's 2021 coup.

It has since seized territory along the border with India and Bangladesh, piling further pressure on the junta as it battles opponents elsewhere across the Southeast Asian country.

It has also held the town of Pauktaw, around 25 kilometres from Sittwe, since January.

AFP images from the town last month showed gutted buildings, vacant windows and blocks bombed to rubble by the fighting, which has emptied the fishing port of its residents.

This month, the AA said junta troops had killed more than 70 civilians in a raid on Byain Phyu village, north of Sittwe.

The junta said the claim was 'propaganda' and accused AA fighters of launching attacks on Sittwe from surrounding villages.

Phone and internet services have been all but cut off across Rakhine state, making it difficult to verify reports of violence.​

 

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Thousands of Rohingya feared trapped in fighting in western Myanmar

Tens of thousands of Muslim minority Rohingya are feared to be caught in fighting in western Myanmar, as a powerful armed ethnic group bears down on junta positions in a coastal town on the country’s border with Bangladesh. The Arakan Army (AA), which is fighting for autonomy for Myanmar&rsq

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Thousands of Rohingya feared trapped in fighting in western Myanmar
REUTERS
Published :
Jun 17, 2024 11:35
Updated :
Jun 17, 2024 11:35

Rohingya refugees rescued by fishermen are seen on a boat behind a patrol boat near the coast of Seunuddon beach in North Aceh, Indonesia, Jun 24, 2020. Photo : Reuters

Tens of thousands of Muslim minority Rohingya are feared to be caught in fighting in western Myanmar, as a powerful armed ethnic group bears down on junta positions in a coastal town on the country's border with Bangladesh.

The Arakan Army (AA), which is fighting for autonomy for Myanmar's Rakhine region, said late on Sunday that residents of Maungdaw town, inhabited primarily by the Rohingya, should leave by 9 pm ahead of a planned offensive on the settlement.

The AA's attack on Maungdaw is the latest in a months-long rebel onslaught against the Myanmar junta, which took power in a February 2021 coup, and now finds itself in an increasingly weakened position across large parts of the country.

"We are going to attack the remaining posts" of junta, the AA said in a statement, asking residents to stay clear of military positions in Maungdaw for their own safety.

A junta spokesman did not respond to a call seeking comment.

Around 70,000 Rohingya who are currently in Maungdaw are trapped as the fighting draws closer, said Aung Kyaw Moe, the deputy human rights minister in Myanmar's shadow National Unity Government.

"They have no where to run to," he told Reuters.

Thousands of Rohingya fled towards neighbouring Bangladesh last month, seeking safety from the escalating conflict, although the neighbouring country is reluctant to accept more refugees.

Their movement was triggered by battles in and around the town of Buthidaung, around 25 km (15 miles) away to the east of Maungdaw, that was captured by the AA after intense fighting during which the rebel group was accused of targeting the Rohingya community.

The AA denies the allegations.

Rohingya have faced persecution in Buddhist-majority Myanmar for decades. Nearly a million of them live in refugee camps in Bangladesh's border district of Cox's Bazar after fleeing a military-led crackdown in Rakhine in 2017.​

 

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APHR concerned over Rohingya civilians caught in crossfire in Myanmar’s Rakhine

ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights, a regional network for promoting democracy and human rights across Southeast Asia, has expressed concern over media reports that thousands of Rohingya may be caught in the crossfire between the Arakan Army and the Myanmar military junta in Rakhine state...

www.newagebd.net

APHR concerned over Rohingya civilians caught in crossfire in Myanmar's Rakhine
Staff Correspondent 18 June, 2024, 16:58

ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights, a regional network for promoting democracy and human rights across Southeast Asia, has expressed concern over media reports that thousands of Rohingya may be caught in the crossfire between the Arakan Army and the Myanmar military junta in Rakhine state in the ongoing civil war in the Southeast Asian nation.

'We are deeply concerned and alarmed by reports that tens of thousands of Rohingya civilians may be trapped in the fighting between the Arakan Army and the Myanmar military junta in Maungdaw, Rakhine state,' said APHR co-chair and former Malaysian member of parliament, Charles Santiago, in a statement on Tuesday.

The statement mentioned that thousands of Rohingya had already been displaced by escalating fighting in the region since last month and this continued violence would only exacerbate the ongoing humanitarian crisis that the Rohingya were subjected to.

'The fact that ASEAN and the international community continue to sit on their hands while countless Rohingya lose their homes and their lives is indefensible. We urge Laos as the ASEAN Chair to push for a cessation of violence so that all civilians can move to safety,' said the APHR co-chair.

He urged the member states of ASEAN and other neighboring countries to allow Rohingyas fleeing the violence safe passage to seek refuge within their borders.

'In 2017, the international community's inaction allowed the Myanmar military junta to commit a genocide against the Rohingya. We simply must not allow history to repeat itself,' Charles Santiago said in the statement.​

 

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UN rights chief: Rohingya have 'nowhere to flee' in western Myanmar fighting

Tens of thousands of Muslim-minority Rohingya, who were feared to be trapped amid fighting in western Myanmar, had nowhere to flee, the United Nations human rights chief said on Tuesday. The Arakan Army, which is fighting for autonomy for Myanmar's Rakhine region, said late on Sunday that resident

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UN rights chief: Rohingya have 'nowhere to flee' in western Myanmar fighting
Published :
Jun 18, 2024 22:22
Updated :
Jun 18, 2024 22:22

Tens of thousands of Muslim-minority Rohingya, who were feared to be trapped amid fighting in western Myanmar, had nowhere to flee, the United Nations human rights chief said on Tuesday.

The Arakan Army, which is fighting for autonomy for Myanmar's Rakhine region, said late on Sunday that residents of the town of Maungdaw, inhabited primarily by the Rohingya, should leave by 9:00 pm (1430 GMT) ahead of a planned offensive.

"I am very concerned about the situation in Maungdaw. The Arakan Army this weekend gave all remaining residents – including a large Rohingya population – a warning to evacuate," Volker Turk, the UN high commissioner for human rights, told the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

"But Rohingya have no options. There is nowhere to flee."

The Rohingya have faced persecution in Buddhist-majority Myanmar for decades. Nearly a million of them live in refugee camps in Bangladesh's border district of Cox's Bazar after fleeing a military-led crackdown in Rakhine state on the western coast in 2017.

The Arakan Army's attack on Maungdaw is the latest in a months-long rebel onslaught against the Myanmar junta, which took power in a February 2021 coup and is finding its position increasingly weakened across large parts of the country.

Around 70,000 Rohingya in Maungdaw are trapped as the fighting draws closer, Aung Kyaw Moe, deputy human rights minister in the shadow National Unity Government, told Reuters on Monday.

A resident of Maungdaw who declined to be named for safety reasons said: "We have nowhere to go, no safe zone, not enough food and basic necessities."

"If they force us to leave, we will have no place to migrate."

An Arakan Army spokesman did not immediately respond to calls and a message seeking comment.​

 

[Saif]

Dhaka warns Myanmar military, Arakan army: HM

Home minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Thursday said that Bangladesh conveyed its concern to Myanmar military and Arakan army with a strong note that...

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Dhaka warns Myanmar military, Arakan army: HM
Agencies 21 June, 2024, 01:03

Home minister Asaduzzaman Khan. | File photo

Home minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Thursday said that Bangladesh conveyed its concern to Myanmar military and Arakan army with a strong note that Bangladesh would retaliate if they fire into Bangladesh territory further, reports BSS.

'Otherwise, we will respond to their firing. If we are attacked, we will respond to that attack,' he told reporters replying to a query at his secretariat office here.

Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said that Myanmar had some internal crises and the country had different ethnic groups.

There are conflicts among them, he said, adding, 'So far we heard that the Arakan army has grabbed many areas of the Arakan state. For this, many members of the Border Guard of Police of Myanmar have fled and came to Bangladesh.'

'Occasionally, by mistake, they (Myanmar military or Arakan army) have opened fire on our Border Guard Bangladesh. We have conveyed our concern to them. They said if we clearly display the Bangladeshi flag on our vessels, no one will fire at them,' he said.

The home minister said that due to poor navigability at certain points of the Naf River, reaching Saint Martin's Island from Teknaf became a challenge by boats.

It forces Bangladeshi boats to navigate those parts through Myanmar waters, leading to incidents where the Myanmar military or the Arakan army opens fire, he said.

Kamal said that the situation had improved recently.

The home minister said that currently, they were not shooting at boats on Bangladeshi waters. 'The two ships (positioned on the Naf River) on the Myanmar side have been withdrawn,' he said.

'We hope that there will be no further gunfire incidents. Nonetheless, those who cross the area are taking necessary precautions,' the home minister added.

The minister said that current discussions about ex-Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia's graft allegation appeared to be based on speculation, reports UNB.

Speaking to journalists at the secretariat, the home minister said, 'As far as I know, the discussions are speculative. No formal allegations have been brought against him yet. Regarding the claims about his illegal properties, he has not been summoned yet. If he is summoned, we will understand, and surely he will have some explanations.'

Talking about ex-IGP Benazir Ahmed he said, 'The value of land has increased significantly. Benazir Ahmed was on a mission for a long time. He might have explanations. If he cannot provide explanations, then questions of corruption will arise,' he said.

Regarding the ongoing investigation into the murder of MP Anar, the home minister said that they were very close in the investigation.

'Once the investigation is complete, we will be able to reveal everything. The Detective Branch is working correctly and independently,' he said.​

 

[Saif]

Dhaka should put in more effort to end Rohingya miseries

MORE than half a million children out of an estimated 1.2 million Rohingyas now living in 33 camps in Cox’s Bazar and on Bhasan Char are reported to be...

www.newagebd.net

Dhaka should put in more effort to end Rohingya miseries
21 June, 2024, 00:00

MORE than half a million children out of an estimated 1.2 million Rohingyas now living in 33 camps in Cox's Bazar and on Bhasan Char are reported to be passing their days disappointed, with almost no future to look forward to. Many of them born into the limbo after the 2017 exodus, when a huge number of Rohingyas started fleeing Myanmar military violence, do not have any past in Rakhine to fall back on. Most of the Rohingyas have no legal identity or citizenship in Myanmar. While this state of being stateless remains a concern and the Rohingyas in Bangladesh camps are provided bare minimum services, children are faced with inadequate educational and recreational opportunities and risks related to exploitation and violence. Heavy monsoon and cyclones also expose them to substantial risks. In the camps in Cox's Bazar, keeping to United Nations Children's Fund data, there are 3,565 learning centres — 3,056 supported by the UN agency and 3,056 supported by education-sector partners — in addition to 31 cross-sectoral shared spaces used for education and 2,233 community-based learning facilities. UNICEF says that it can provide formal education and alternative learning, based on the Myanmar curriculum, roughly to 260,000 children.

This appears inadequate as about a half of the Rohingya children living in shelters in Bangladesh are left out of education. UNICEF says that it is trying to ensure that children should have the desired level of learning and skills. But UNICEF data also show that many children, especially in the 3–5 and 15–18 age groups, are still out of school. With no scope for further learning, Rohingya children can now complete education up to Class X. UNICEF says that it would offer education of Class XI in the 2024–25 academic year and of Class XII the next academic year. It is feared, in such a situation, that many children of school-going age having been left out of school could be drawn into violence. Some of them say that they live in constant fear as they have seen people often being kidnapped or killed. Sixty-four Rohingyas, keeping to Rapid Action Battalion data, were killed in camps in 2023 and 20 were killed until the first week of June in 2024. No open spaces for them to play outdoors has compounded the problem. Most of the Rohingyas worry about the future of their children as such a situation has forced many Rohingyas to resort to counselling in hospitals running inside the camps. A psychologist working in a clinic that the UN Refugee Agency and Gonoshasthaya Kendra runs in a camp says that five to seven Rohingyas visit the clinic for counselling on an average every day. With the world attention rapidly shifting from one crisis to another and the global focus on the Rohingya crisis fading away, there is hardly any end in sight to the problem.

While Bangladesh should, therefore, arrange for more recreational facilities and widen education coverage for a sustainable future for the Rohingya children, the authorities must step up efforts on world and regional forums to resolve the crisis.​

 

[Saif]

International community for immediate solution to Rohingya crisis

International community urged all to expedite efforts to resolve the Rohingya crisis. In a statement, issued to mark World Refugee Day, they said, “We stand in solidarity with the more than 120 million people, that is 1 in 69, worldwide, who are forcibly displaced due to conflict, violence,

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

International community for immediate solution to Rohingya crisis
Published :
Jun 20, 2024 20:35
Updated :
Jun 20, 2024 20:35

In a statement, issued to mark World Refugee Day, they said, "We stand in solidarity with the more than 120 million people, that is 1 in 69, worldwide, who are forcibly displaced due to conflict, violence, and persecution."

"Among these individuals are over 1 million Rohingyas, who fled from their homes in Myanmar and sought refuge in Bangladesh," the statement, which was circulated by the US Embassy in Dhaka, said.

"We appreciate the Government of Bangladesh for continuing to host the Rohingya in their time of need. We also continue to honour the incredible resilience and strength of spirit of the Rohingya people in adversity."

"We all continue to make dedicated efforts to provide essential services for Rohingya refugees, and Bangladesh's host communities," it said, adding that the international community continues to advocate for global attention for this protracted crisis, amid emerging new crises and growing global humanitarian need.

"In the camps, improved opportunities for refugees to pursue meaningful education and livelihoods could build essential resilience and self-reliance."

"This is important to overcome cycles of poverty and marginalisation for future generations."

The hope remains that safe, voluntary, dignified and sustainable repatriation will be possible for Rohingya refugees in the long term, they said.

"However, the escalating conflict and deteriorating humanitarian conditions in Myanmar mean that this is unlikely in the near future. We remain deeply concerned by the worsening situation in Rakhine State and the cross-border implications. Today we reiterate the importance of protecting all civilians."

"At the Global Refugee Forum in December 2023, we made a collective pledge to share global responsibility and enhance partnerships to address the complexities of forced displacement."

It said that the international community is committed to ensuring a better and more dignified life for the Rohingyas while they remain in Bangladesh.

"We will continue to pursue regional coordination and collective efforts towards sustainable solutions for Rohingya refugees, partnering with the Government of Bangladesh."​

 

[Saif]

রাখাইন রাজ্যের মংডু টাউনশিপ থেকে আসা মুহুর্মুহু বিস্ফোরণের শব্দে কেঁপে উঠছে কক্সবাজার |

 

[Saif]

Myanmar civil war: Bangladesh must be firm about territorial integrity

M Humayun Kabir talks about the implications of the ongoing conflict in Myanmar’s Rakhine state

www.thedailystar.net

Myanmar civil war: Bangladesh must be firm about territorial integrity

VISUAL: STAR

M Humayun Kabir, president of Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI) and a former ambassador, talks to Tamanna Khan of The Daily Star about the implication of the ongoing conflict in Myanmar's Rakhine state between the country's military and the Arakan Army.

Myanmar's internal conflict has been affecting our southeastern border, especially St Martin's Island. How do you analyse this situation?

It is a very complex and difficult situation because we have a problem with the Rohingya population that have taken shelter in Bangladesh. We have been bearing their responsibility for the last seven years. On top of that, a new problem has cropped up: the internal conflict in Myanmar that has now come to our border. In recent times, some bullets and shells from across the Myanmar border landed on Bangladesh. In the last two or three weeks, we have been having some difficulty also in the southeastern border areas, particularly around Cox's Bazar. We have seen St Martin's Island coming under fire from the Myanmar side as well.

We have taken a somewhat benign approach to this issue because we consider whatever is happening in Rakhine to be an internal matter of Myanmar. That's why we have refrained from taking any initiative other than the diplomatic one. We have lodged protests through the diplomatic channel against cross-border firing and also protested whenever there has been a report on border violations. We have also tried to maintain calm and arranged return of groups that entered Bangladesh. In the process, we sent a clear signal to the Myanmar side and to the international community that Bangladesh considers the ongoing conflict as an internal affair of Myanmar, and we have no intention and no interest to get involved in this process. Our key interest is to facilitate the quick return of the Rohingya population that have taken shelter in Bangladesh back to Myanmar as soon as possible. That remains our priority.

To be continued...................​

 

[Saif]

What implications does this conflict have for Bangladesh?

It looks like the military conflict is intensifying and there is a growing prospect of the Arakan Army dominating the Rakhine landscape and taking control of the region from the Myanmar military. If that happens, it will create a situation that we have never faced before. For example, we want to maintain our relationship with Myanmar as a neighbouring country. If the Rakhine state, which is the connecting point between Myanmar and Bangladesh, goes under the Arakan Army's control, the question then will be: what kind of relationship should we maintain with the Myanmar government? Under that hypothetical scenario, what will happen to the repatriation possibility of the Rohingya? The Bangladesh government does not recognise the Arakan Army as a political entity. If they physically control Rakhine, what kind of relationship will we have with them? So, this internal armed conflict in Myanmar is opening up a scenario which is a potential diplomatic challenge for Bangladesh. Additionally, it will further complicate the Rohingya repatriation issue.

As for the firing on Bangladeshi boats from the Myanmar side, it makes our population living near the Myanmar border vulnerable. This also hampers communication between the mainland and St Martin's Island. In the last two to three weeks, there has been no regular traffic between the mainland and the island. Of late, we have heard remarks from different quarters about St Martin's. If the island comes under any kind of threat from the Myanmar side, it will raise questions about our territorial integrity. For Bangladesh, it means we are facing a three-dimensional threat: diplomatic, military, and strategic. That's why it is extremely important now for Bangladesh to not only diplomatically engage with Myanmar and let them know that we are not involved in their internal affairs, but also take appropriate action to defend our territorial integrity, should the situation aggravate further along the border.

Is there anything else that we should do?

I think that some kind of demonstration of our determination is also required. If needed, we can go back to our old playbook that could guide us to tackle any kind of challenge around St Martin's Island. I think since the issue is affecting our national security, we should be firm and then demonstrate that firmness to Myanmar. At the same time, we should convey that message to the Arakan Army too. At this point, I don't believe that they are intentionally violating our territorial integrity or shooting at St Martin's. Even in that kind of situation, it is important for us to convey a message to them that this is not acceptable. And if this continues, Bangladesh will have to protect its territorial integrity.

To be continued.................​

 

[Saif]

Previously, you talked about Bangladesh facilitating a ceasefire. Is that still an option?

At that time, that could have been a possible move. But the situation has taken a different turn now. So, I do not believe that we are at that stage to talk about a ceasefire. Now, it looks like the conflict may take two shapes. Under the first scenario, the conflict in Rakhine may intensify with the Myanmar military deploying their land and air assets to overpower the Arakan Army, which seems remote. The second scenario could be that the Arakan Army takes full military control of the Rakhine state and then possibly negotiates a ceasefire. Whichever situation arises, new options have to be explored.

Do you think more Rohingya refugees might try to enter Bangladesh as the conflict escalates?

Well, there have been reports in the international media and humanitarian organisations in recent weeks that the Rohingya are being used or abused by both sides. There are reports that the Myanmar government is using the Rohingya. Some reports mentioned that some of the Rohingya are working for the Arakan Army as well. As a result, the Rohingya population is facing great difficulty within Myanmar and particularly in Rakhine now. There are reports that in the Buthidaung town, the Arakan Army burned thousands of houses of the Rohingya, but they issued statements denying their role in the arson and accusing the other side. The Rohingya are caught in the crossfire. There are about 600,000 Rohingya still living in Rakhine. If they are in difficulty, there is a possibility of them trying to cross over to Bangladesh, despite Bangladesh clearly stating that no more Rohingya will be accepted. So, multiple challenges are brewing up on the Myanmar front: diplomatic, humanitarian, military, and strategic. As a way forward, it is extremely important that we discuss this issue with our friends in India, China, Japan and Thailand—those who can somehow influence Myanmar and other groups, including the Arakan Army. One could also think of raising this issue with the United Nations. On our part, we should also take appropriate steps to protect our territorial integrity and safety of our own people, continue our work to ensure earliest possible repatriation of the Rohingya population back to Myanmar, and reach out to all actors to achieve our objectives.​

 

[Saif]

First Myanmar junta conscripts to begin duty at end of month

A first batch of 5,000 conscripts called up by Myanmar’s junta will begin duty at the end of this month, military sources said on Monday, as the generals struggle to crush opposition to their coup...

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First Myanmar junta conscripts to begin duty at end of month
Agence France-Presse . Yangon 24 June, 2024, 23:52

A military parade in Naypyitaw, Myanmar. | AFP file photo

A first batch of 5,000 conscripts called up by Myanmar's junta will begin duty at the end of this month, military sources said on Monday, as the generals struggle to crush opposition to their coup.

The junta enforced a conscription law in February, three years after it seized power and sparked a widespread armed uprising that has spread across swathes of the Southeast Asian country.

The law allows the military to summon all men aged 18-35 and women aged 18-27 to serve in the armed forces for at least two years.

'The first batch of recruits, who started in early April, will conclude training at the end of this month,' one military source said.

The source said that upon graduation the 5,000 conscripts would be posted to 'different military commands around the country to serve their duty', without giving details on how they would serve.

He requested anonymity as he was not authorised to talk to the media.

Another military source who also requested anonymity said individual military commands would decide how to employ the recruits they received.

'It will be up to the commands they arrive at after their training,' he said.

Myanmar has 14 regional military commands across the country, from the Himalayan foothills in the north to the sprawling Ayeyarwady delta region bordering the Indian Ocean.

At least 10 of them are currently engaged in fighting established ethnic minority armed groups or newer 'People's Defence Forces' that have sprung up to resist the junta.

The military service law was authored by a previous junta in 2010 but was never brought into force.

The terms of service can be extended up to five years during a state of emergency — which the junta declared when it seized power.

Those ignoring a summons to serve can be jailed for the same period.

Thousands of young men and women have been trying to leave the country since the law was enforced.

Conscripts from the third batch of 5,000 recruits have already begun arriving at training centres, the first source said.

A junta spokesman previously said the military has the capacity to train 50,000 a year although about 13 million people will be eligible to be called up.

Last month, state media quoted the junta's defence minister as saying the military had faced 'challenges' in filling quotas.

Local media have reported cases of young men being pulled off the streets in Yangon and other cities and taken away to undergo military training.

The junta has denied the reports.

Myanmar has been in turmoil since the military coup in February 2021 toppled the government of Aung San Suu Kyi.

Since then, more than 5,200 people have been killed in the military crackdown on dissent, and more than 26,000 others arrested, according to a local monitoring group.​