Rohingya crisis deepens in restive Rakhine

On October 9, 2016,  hundreds of people attacked three Myanmar police stations simultaneously near Maungdaw and Rathedaung townships, close to the border with Bangladesh, killing nine police officers. Several policemen were injured and one was said to be missing. The attackers looted dozens of weapons and huge quantities of ammunition. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

The press release by the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry on October 16 stated: "Bangladesh finds these developments in Rakhine State, bordering Bangladesh disturbing and Bangladesh unequivocally condemns the attack on Myanmar forces..." Bangladesh has closed Teknaf land port and BGB has strengthened border patrols. 

A statement from the office of Myanmar President Htin Kyaw blamed unknown extremist group "Aqa Mul Mujahideen" (AMM), which is suspected to be an offshoot of the defunct Rohingya Solidarity Organisation (RSO) for the attack. "They persuade the young people using religious extremism and they have financial support from outside. . . They now have 400 insurgents fighting in Maungdaw region", said the statement. Five soldier and 33 insurgents (Rohingyas) have been killed in clashes with the group. 

The statement from the president's office also said that interrogation of two captured suspects handed over by Border Guards of Bangladesh (BGB) to Myanmar forces revealed links with militants in Pakistan. Apparently, Havistoohar is the ring leader, who had trained with Taliban in Pakistan and received funds from individuals in the Middle East. 

When asked about the attack and the statement made by the Myanmar president's office, Aung San Suu Kyi, attending BIMSTEC Summit in Goa on October 16, said, "We don't know the full details . . . that is just information from just one source, we can't take it for granted that it's absolutely correct".  Clearly, Suu Kyi was uncomfortable with the statement from the president's office.

The president's office obviously pointed fingers towards Rohingya Muslims, who have been denied every human right and live in utter depravation in the Buddhist majority Rakhine. The condition of 1.2 million indigenous but stateless Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine is well known, as even the United Nations has described the Rohingyas as one of the most persecuted communities in the world.

It is extremely difficult to get a correct picture of what is happening in upper Rakhine, as journalists, human rights monitors and aid workers were locked out from the area. Who was responsible for the attack and what the military is doing is unclear. However, given the past brutal approach of the military towards the Rohingyas, many of the accounts trickling through social media seem credible. 

Immediately after the incident military poured into northern Rakhine, the search for the attackers and lost weapons was launched. Military has designated the area as an "operation zone". What has drawn international attention are media reports of systematic human rights violation against Rohingyas by the military during their combing operations.

According to unconfirmed reports, at least 133 unarmed Rohingyas, mostly women and children, have been killed or have died in custody. Dozens of women have been raped and tortured. Hundreds of Rohingyas have been arrested, villages burnt down and mosques desecrated. Over 15,000 people have been displaced so far. Curfews have been imposed and movement of Rohingyas is severely restricted. Apparently, the military has resorted to collective punishment. Recent satellite images of the area bear out media reports.

The attack reveals that an armed group has probably surfaced from among the oppressed Rohingya Muslim community. So far there were communal riots between the Rohingya and the Buddhist communities. Now an armed insurgency threat seems to have emerged in the state. Myanmar Times (October 14) warned that a Chimaera has been born out of oppression, fear, deliberate provocation (against the Rohingyas). 

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) issued a statement calling for calm after receiving "disturbing reports of extra-judicial killings of Rohingya Muslims." Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch called upon the Myanmar government to invite the United Nations to participate in a thorough and impartial investigation into the deadly attacks and military operations. The 11-member Commission formed by the Arakan State Parliament to address the Maungdaw attack does not include any Rohingya representative. 

Suu Kyi is under international pressure to address the Rohingya issue. The incident is a serious challenge to Suu Kyi's fledgling democracy as she tries to establish civilian authority over the powerful military. The military continues to ignore Suu Kyi's call to abide by the rule of law and respect human rights. She seems powerless against Home Minister Lt General Kyaw Swe. It probably serves the military to demonstrate to Suu Kyi that Rohingya insurgency can only be handled by ruthless force and not through a peaceful democratic process.  

Members of the Kofi Annan led Advisory Commission on Rakhine met Defence and Home Ministry officials on October 19 to discuss the situation in Maungdaw, but did not give any reaction. Suu Kyi arranged a visit by diplomats based in Myanmar to the affected areas in Rakhine from November 2-3, 2016. It is unlikely that they will find any violation of human rights. On November 3, Suu Kyi said that her government was dealing with Rakhine "as per the law". 

The incident has brought two interlinked issues to the fore - human rights violation of Rohingyas and the possible rise of an insurgent group - which are likely to affect Bangladesh. If Myanmar gives arms and training to non-Muslims, as reported, it will certainly increase sectarian violence.  Bangladesh needs to tell Myanmar not to create a situation in Rakhine that may trigger another exodus of Rohingya refugees into this country. And BGB must remain vigilant against any attack on them from across Myanmar. 

Myanmar should accept Bangladesh's proposal of a legal framework for cooperation to deal with cross border security issues. Aung San Suu Kyi must take steps to arrest further deterioration of a volatile situation, reign in the military from violating human rights of unarmed Rohingyas and immediately restore the rights of this oppressed community.  

The writer is a former Ambassador and Secretary.