AA condemns joint statement on situation in northern Arakan

By Admin 25 May 2024

DMG Newsroom
25 May 2024, Sittwe

The United League for Arakan/Arakkha Army (ULA/AA) has strongly condemned a joint statement issued by 195 revolutionary organisations, civil society organisations and anonymous groups about the situation in northern Arakan State, saying the statement is factually inaccurate, and out of touch with reality.

Though the joint statement did not accuse the AA of arbitrarily arresting and killing Muslims, it did call for a probe into allegations about the arresting and killing of Muslims by AA troops on the ground.

The joint statement says: “There were reports of slaughtering of entire Muslim villages and snatching of Muslims in Buthidaung and Maungdaw townships in April and May.”

Citing the accounts of media reports and witnesses, the joint statement claims that AA troops torched the houses of Muslims in Buthidaung town around 10 a.m. on May 17.

The AA said in its Saturday statement that it strongly objected to false reports, baseless and one-sided accusations, and the choice of words that could lead the international community to believe the AA committed those crimes.

The AA said some organisations were tricked into signing the joint statement in the name of human rights, while the names of some organisations were put on the joint statement without seeking their approval or informing them.

The AA requested that any organisation whose name was put on the joint statement without its knowledge make that known.

“Only then will we be able to avoid misunderstanding, mistrust and disagreement between us and our friendly organisations,” says the AA’s statement.

Student Unions-Yangon, which signed the joint statement, released a statement on Saturday saying it did not do a thorough fact-check on all the details in the statement it signed on to. It did check the facts after the joint statement was issued, the group said, and found that some facts are flawed and do not match the situation on the ground.

“We are deeply concerned that issuing a statement based on less accurate and reliable facts will worsen tensions between the stakeholders in the region. We need to take responsibility for our carelessness and negligence, and we officially withdraw from the joint statement,” reads the Student Unions-Yangon statement.

A social activist in Arakan State: “It is good that some have withdrawn. Some organisations did not even mention their names in the joint statement, and they only did it for money. Other organisations should also fix [their stance] when they realise they did wrong.”

The People's Militia Strategy Advisory Bureau and Thunder Guerilla Force on Thursday advised against making statements and publishing analytical reports about the current situation in Arakan State based on unfounded and biassed information.

AA chief Major General Twan Mrat Naing also responded to the joint statement on Wednesday by alleging that those organisations made accusations to please their donors while ignoring the truth.