Muslims in Sittwe coerced into joining anti-AA protest

By Admin 22 Mar 2024

DMG Newsroom
22 March 2024, Sittwe

The military regime has orchestrated another protest against the Arakan Army (AA) in Arakan State, which took place in the state capital Sittwe on Thursday, with hundreds of Muslims joining the protest.

Muslim protesters took to the streets holding placards that read “We don’t want AA”, “We don’t want war”, “Let’s protect Sittwe”, “We don’t want the National Unity Government and AA that are undermining peace and stability of the country”, “We don’t want AA insurgents that are shelling residential areas.”

Muslim residents that joined the anti-AA rally were reportedly from Aung Mingalar, Kathe and Than Taw Li wards in Sittwe town. They were coerced into joining the protests, said Muslim activists.

The founder of the Free Rohingya Coalition, Nay San Lwin, said: “Sittwe town is now controlled by the military council. So [Muslim people living there] have to follow their orders. [Muslim residents] will face very unpleasant consequences if they don’t follow, so they have to organise a protest.”

A similar protest took place in Buthidaung town on Tuesday, and was joined by hundreds of Muslims who were coerced by the regime.

Both Arakanese and Muslim communities believe the regime is attempting to sow discord between the two communities as it is losing the war in Arakan State.

“The Myanmar military has persecuted Rohingya (Muslims) for years. And it is also a form of persecution to force them into joining protests. The regime is losing the fight with the AA, so it is attempting to incite racial and religious violence with the hope of remedying the situation,” said Nay San Lwin.

There were sectarian conflicts in 2012 and 2017 in Arakan State due to incitement, and hundreds of thousands of Muslims fled into Bangladesh following junta clearance operations in 2017.

A social activist from Sittwe said: “Both sides have suffered from strife before. Both sides need to exercise restraint as the regime is creating racial conflicts.”

AA spokesman U Khaing Thukha told the media that the armed group would respond cautiously to junta-orchestrated protests.

The regime has been forcibly conscripting Muslims in Buthidaung, Maungdaw, Sittwe, and Kyaukphyu townships and sending them to the front line, forcing many Muslims to go into hiding.