Inquiries in Myanmar’s Rakhine state by Amnesty International suggest that a Rohingya armed group may have been responsible for a massacre of Hindu women, men and children in Maungdaw township, as well as unlawful killings and abductions of Hindu villagers in August 2017.
Undoubtedly, accountability for and individual criminal responsibility for these atrocities as crucial as for the crimes carried out by Myanmar’s security forces in Rakhine state and elsewhere in Myanmar.
There is little doubt that terrorist and militant groups have taken advantage of the disfranchised Rohingya, including recruiting them as cannon fodder for al-Qaeda in Afghanistan. In an interview with the Karachi-based newspaper Ummat on September 28, 2001, Osama bin Laden said: “There are areas in all parts of the world where strong jihadi forces are present, from Indonesia to Algeria, from Kabul to Chechnya, from Bosnia to Sudan, and from Burma to Kashmir.”
In mentioning Burma (Myanmar), he may have been referring to a small group of Rohingya on the Bangladesh-Myanmar border. Today, it seems that many militant groups in this region have all been using a similar modus operandi of attacking police stations and posts, while ISIS-affiliated individuals and groups have been feverishly attacking police stations as far off as Kenya, Iraq and Libya.
The ISIS terror group’s official Al-Hayat Media Center released footage on January 26 calling on jihadis to destroy the kuffar (non-believers) in “Europe, America, Russia, Australia and elsewhere”. The English-language nasheed (religious hymn) in the video promises paradise in the afterlife for those who take up the cause.
Forced conversion of captive women into the jihadis’ Islamic ideologies and beliefs can be easily seen from the testimonies of Yazidi and other survivors.
The similarity of the modus operandi of these Islamist terrorists and criminals are not only of probative value in any criminal proceeding but also tend to show the influence of Islamic State’s ideology and methodology.
In an interview published in an issue of the Islamic State magazine Dabiq, Tamim Chowdhury (using the nom de guerre Abu Ibrahim Hanif), allegedly head of the organization’s Bangladesh wing, claimed that efforts to recruit in Bangladesh had gained “great momentum,” with many Muslims joining its ranks via a campaign in Bengali language on social media. He also claimed that jihad was planned in both the Bengal and other countries in the region.
Madrassas in Bangladesh have reportedly been hotbeds of Islamist militancy in the past and there have been claims this continues despite official crackdowns. One of the most significant links was unearthed in March 2009 when a madrassa in Bhola, southern Bangladesh, was raided by an anti-terrorist division, turning up 10 firearms, 2,500 rounds of ammunition and radical Islamic literature. Investigations revealed that the madrassa was funded by a British-registered charity Green Crescent, and that the founder, British citizen Dr Faisal Mostafa, had close links to the JMB and its current leader, Saidur Rahman.
Meanwhile, an Islamist politician, who was the founder of a madrassa in Malaysia, created untold havoc in a foreign sovereign independent member-state of the UN with his fellow terrorists associated with the Nusra Front.
South Asian and ASEAN states have all reaffirmed that terrorism is one of the most serious threats to international peace and security and that people responsible for committing terrorist acts, abuses or violations of international humanitarian law must be held accountable.
So, Asian states must continue to coordinate efforts with other sovereign independent nation-states to prevent and suppress terrorism.
ARSA, criminals or not, was formed as a direct consequence of state-sponsored violence against Rohingya and other Muslim groups in Myanmar (the government amd military triggerred the violence in 2012). It’s widely proven; again and again.
But how is it related to something which a certain AQ offshoot said in 2001? Your analysis lack both logic & substances!
This similar claims of AQ links were already trashed by Joseph Allchin in June 2012 itself. Have a look.
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1819326848121113&id=100001314472581
As of killings of 99 Hindu civilians, an independent international investigation team need to formed to find out to find out who killed them because any investigations carried out under watchful eyes of the Myanmar military within Myanmar is highly dubious. Its been proven time and again.
For more, read:
https://twitter.com/YoursRohingya/status/914437609316802560?ref_src=twcamp%5Ecopy%7Ctwsrc%5Eandroid%7Ctwgr%5Ecopy%7Ctwcon%5E7090%7Ctwterm%5E3
https://www.dhakatribune.com/opinion/op-ed/2018/06/19/putting-lives-in-danger
The Myanmar militiary has claimed they were acting against terrorists. It appears there maybe be more to this story than the biased wetsern media has lead us to believe.
John, India & its NIA say that I’m right :
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/rohingya-terror-suspect-reveals-al-qaeda-s-india-plan-1210255-2018-04-12
All media have their biases. Some need to self-censor. Some journalists just get shot or disappear.
INDIA & its National Investigation Agency (NIA) agree with me :
First & foremost, I’d like to thank all my Asia Times readers worldwide. As of now, I’d received 3 comments including 2 brickbats from the same guy and 250 shares. Point to note, I’m not the Indian Minister of Intelligence nor the Malaysian Minister of Intelligence yet, nor am I the UN Special Envoy/Rapporteur on Intelligence.
Nevertheless, INDIA & its National Investigation Agency (NIA) agree with my erudite opinion article :
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/rohingya-terror-suspect-reveals-al-qaeda-s-india-plan-1210255-2018-04-12
Is it Indo Myanmar version to justify killing rape and masacare of
innocent Myanmar Rohyangas.
"C’est la guerre."
The 2012 communal unrest was triggered by the rape and murder of a Rakhine woman, Thida Htwe, by a group of Muslim males. Please verify the facts before giving your half-baked opinions. This rape-murder was the beginning of intense enmity between the local Buddhist Rakhines and a handful of Muslim extremists recently sneaked into Myanmar. These illegal immigrants from Bangladesh speak neither Rakhine language nor Burmese and yet they claim they have been living in western Myanmar for centuries. Yes, there are Muslims who have been peacefully coexisting with the local population and other ethnic groups for centuries but the recently arrived illegal immigrants, adhering to the extreme jihadist ideas, are responsible for the land-grab attempt.
UN Facts Finding Mission reported that Myanmar Army is using ARSA as an excuse to drive out the so-called Rohingya. I doubt their honesty. Myanmar has been at a civil war for more than half a decade. I’ve never heard of a full-scale and organized raid on 30 outpost from other groups except ARSA.
Each outpost was attacked by more or less a thousand men armed with clubs and machetes.
What is your opinion on this?
Who siad you Rohingya?. There are NO Rohingya in colonial Myamar, Bangladesh and India’s history. It is Fake Ethnic only. Banglies Muslim started Jihad and mass Killing at Northern Rakhine in 2012. Everybody DON’T KNOW about real story else propagandize of OIC. This is Media war.
Anyone aware of trails of those Bengalis leaving from Rakhine then cross the Naft river last year ? This is so flat area
They only went from one way. Where was the place and video or
photos. They carried every pieces of cooking stuffs or cloths take most of things they belongs to. During trip to Bengladesh BBC had time to put make up to look dirtier.
They were not so hurried. What was this all about?
Anyone can explain which country will tolerate attacking 30 police post?
I thought the distrust began because the Rohingya remained loyal to the British during World War 2. After independence in 1948, some Arakanese Muslims petitioned for Maungda & Buthidaung districts to become part of East Pakistan. The Burmese authorities thus regarded the Muslim population as hostile to the new regime, they saw them as outsiders whose loyalty lay with a different state. This helped create the belief that only Buddhists could really be part of the new state. However, I think this was minor compared to the Shan & Karen revolts.
Well, you’re right about the civil war. I think the Shan & Karen have used guns, killing far more of the military than ARSA so far. Military battles in those areas have been far more intense. It’s surprising that, except for a brief uprising during 1946-7, the Rohingyas have been mainly peaceful – certainly compared to the Shan or Karen who have a long history of armed resistance to the Burmese state. Why was this? Sorry, I’m online only once a day to reply to your anticipated comment.
Still doesn’t changes the fact Burmese uses it as excuse to genocide, rape, kill Rohingya. If only you look at history of Burmese empires/kingdom invading, massacring other ethnic minorities such as the Chin people, Shan people, also Rohingya. Historically they invaded from southeast asia to south Asia. While the ARSA are indeed a Rohingya muslim terrorist group attacking 30 police stations, outpost and aswell did genocide hindus. Let’s not forget that Myammar is nation ruled by dictatorship and it’s a fake buddhist nation to be honest because most Burmese do not follow the basic teaching of buddhism, all they do is pray.
Abdul Rob Show your evigance please." Rohingya remained loyal to the British during World War 2. After independence in 1948." We have never been seen British record usage as Rohingya. And No Rohingya ethnic in Bangladesh upto now.It is amazing.
Dear Hakimi Abdul Jabar Sir,
My account’s activity is blocked for 24 hours for I translated your article and posted it on facebook. The reason, they say, is that it is a hate speech on a race/religion. Facebook team doesn’t know Myanmar language. But they have a monitoring team in Kualalampure. I suspect they hired those so-called Rohingya Bengali asylees. Facebook is notorious in Myanmar.
Htay Oung. Hello. Yes, you are correct, the British did not use the term "Rohingya". The British census of 1925-6 showed a large Muslim community that spoke the local Rohingya language & had been living in Arakan. They were linguistically distinct from Northern India. The British opted to classify on the basis of religion & not ethnicity. So that’s why people say as there was no mention of the Rohingya in the census; there can’t have been any Rohingya. Though this logic is flawed if the British chose only to categorise by religion. But please, can you explain the following, if there are no Rohingya in Myanmar: The 1961 census indicated the Mayu district was 75% Rohingya. The 1964 government school encyclopedia describes the ethnic make up of the Mayu region as 75% Rohingya & a few Rakine. It’s in the Bank of Knowledge, 1964 "Scripture of Myanmar Encyclopedia", published Rangoon, page 89.
Htay Oung. The British in their divide & rule tactics, created division along religious lines. They preferred to employ Indians in the colonial civil service & administrative structures. During the Second World War, the Rohingya remained loyal to the British. The Japanese then carried out massacres of Rohingya to punish them for their pro-British stance. The British also promised the Muslims of northern Arakan relative independence & the creation of a Muslim area in exchange for their contribution to the war effort. This was a huge historical error. They renegaded on this promise.
Hello Htay Qung, I’m sorry to hear your Facebook account was blocked. ARSA may be a big problem in the future. The danger is that elements from Neo JMB, ABT, Ansar al-Islam & Huji-B in Bangladesh will try to radicalised some of the Rohingya within the camps of Bangladesh (or those who have left the camps). There are plenty of desperate Rohingya who could be susceptible to radical ideas. If radicalised, they may try to seek revenge or think insurrection is the only solution, returning to Myanmar to pursue terrorist activities. The problem is, this danger may increase the longer the Rohingya remain at the camps. Furthermore, there are Rohingya in India who may be similarly influenced by, for example, IS or Lashkar-e-Taiba (from Pakistan). In a way, one could argue that pushing the Rohingya into Bangladesh has increased the potential terrorist threat rather than reduced it.
Do not know what to say! No doubt thre were terrorist groups among the Rohingyas and they were carrying out several terrorist attack against non-Muslims, But should that justify the counter-massacre of the Rohingyas by the Mayanmari Military? And there are terrorists among Mulims in India but should that justify if the regime at the Centre to treat all muslim as terrorists? Or should they allow the Rohingya refugees to settle in India?
The problem is many people consider it not unreasonable to base arguments on opinion & emotion alone. We are not using knowledge to make informed judgments. Conspiracy theories & myths abound. Reasoning often starts with conclusions & works back to find "facts" that support what we already believe; claims that feel right, even if they have no basis in fact. People will continue to believe what they want to believe. Cogent argument does not sway the irrational but makes their attitudes more entrenched. So what do these posts on Asia Times do other than reinforce one’s prior beliefs?
Cris Tobal What it has to do with empires/kingdom. British did more than Burmese. Don’t talk nonsense. In modern day, your US government are doing more than that. Bombing, killing non-stop. Why don’t you call it genocide. We are defencing ourselves. Nothing wrong with that. Your govement and its allies want to stop chinese OBOR plans and using Myanmar as scapegoats. Before you blame other without knowing the deep rooted history and background, see yourself and your country first.
Abdul Rob Are you threating now?
Ofcourse, you would think like that if you don’t know the centuries long history of Bengali fake Rohingyas slaughtering Hindus and Buddhists since WW2. It doesn’t justify by recent event. Myanmar know it, feel it and see it.
May Moe. Hardly. Threatening online gets nowhere. The 1-2 July 2016 terrorist attack in Dhaka, in which 20 hostages were kiled, most with having their throats slit, was instigated by Neo JMB trying to adhere to IS ideology. There have been decades of terrorist incidents in Bangladesh involving the groups I mentioned, with operatives trying to recruit the local population – sometimes even successfully using women & children. So I’m only stating the danger that the Rohingya may be recruited.
May Moe. I’m not talking about any particular incident or history when I wrote the above statement, but about the way people respond to other people’s posts. If you look at the Asia Times posts (not just this article), does anyone manage to convince anyone else who has a different opinion? It’s my observation of people’s replies to posts they disagree with. What do you think?
Abdul Rob Grierson’s famous linguistic survey of India identified majority of Muslim people in northern Rakhine as ‘Bengali speaking’ against your suggestion of local dialect. And Britishes exactly recorded them as coming from Chittagong. In 1947 Bangladesh, as East Pakistan, got control of Chittagong Hill Tract. She is responsible for Chittagonian descendants. At least these people have rights to settle in Chittagong area. To settle there or go back to Myanmar is their own choice.
Bengali people tend to go back to Chittagong at the slightest hint of danger in Myanmar. The same happened in 1978 and 1991. None were genocide. They remained in Myanmar as non-citizens. History is too complex to recommend a simple solution: but rights of these people to settle in Chittagong should not be ruled out. They are certainly Chittagonian descendants.
Nyi Nyi Myo. Thank you for your contribution. Some of the ancestors in present day Rakhine came from Northern India to Arakan about 5,000 years ago. About 1,000 years ago they had largely adopted Islam. This was well before the Burmese kings conquered the region in the 1780s. I agree there may also be some Bengali speaking people who infiltrated across the border. The border was very porous. In 1982 the Rohingya were deemed ‘foreign’ under the Burmese Citizen Law. There was no category for Rohingya. In the 2014 census, Rohingyas were forced to register as either ‘Bengalis’ or be excluded. One-third of the population of Rakhine were declared as ‘not enumerated’. To accept being ‘Bengali’ meant loss of any right to live in Myanmar, refusing meant any remaining ID cards were confiscated; those people ended up with no ID. You bring a very interesting point of where people would like to settle. What is your opinion on the entitlement of people to have citizenship in the country of their birth?
Nyi Nyi Myo, you are correct in saying that those previous 2 dates have not been recognised as genocide. Regarding citizenship: see the above comment for you.
Abdul Rob I am sorry to argue your descriptions. 1000 years ago Chinese pilgrim monk recorded flourishing of Buddhism in southeast Bengal. Inscriptions will prove it again. Islam is a late comer, as well as Bengali tribes themselves. You better remember the presence of indigenous people of Chittagong Hill Tract. They form a barrier between Bengal and Rakhine. Lewin, authoritative about these areas, confirmed that Bengalis could not infiltrate the Hills until mid-19 century. British conquest of the area changes all these balances. Chittagonians entered Rakhine en masses. Before this, they entered three times, with the approval of natives, in 1497, 1600 and 1660.
Nyi Nyi Myo. Hello. You have every right to argue your opinion – that’s what this comment page is for. I’m not trying to say anything about when Buddhism arrived into the area that is now Myanmar or disputing that Buddhism has been there a long time. The Chittagong Hill Tracts hosted many diverse ethnic groups such as the Chakma (they were Buddhist), Marma, Mrung, Lushai, etc. They spoke 10 indigenous languages. The British tried to protect indigenous tribal people in these hilly areas, including what is now NE India – Nagaland, Manipur, etc. They regulated the area to keep out speculators or squatters from the plains. However, after Partition in 1947 the policy changed. The influx of Bengali settlers into the Chittagong Hill Tracts as well as discrimination, led to a full-blown insurgency from the mid-1970s until 1997. But would you like to give your opinion on citizenship? I think this is more of an issue than exactly when people arrived to Arakan/ Rakhine.