Military accused of driving wedges between Arakanese, Muslim communities

By Admin 21 Mar 2024

DMG Newsroom
21 March 2024, Sittwe

Myanmar’s military is attempting to cause racial conflicts between Arakanese and Muslim communities in Arakan State by abusing Muslim people, according to members of both communities.

The regime has forcibly conscripted Muslims to fight the AA, and also forced them to stage protests against the AA, which enjoys popular support among the Arakanese people, said a Muslim faith leader from Buthidaung.

“The regime is attempting to create conflicts between Arakanese and Muslim communities,” he said.

Hundreds of Muslims took to the streets in Buthidaung on Tuesday, holding placards that read “We don’t want AA”, “We don’t want fighting” and “Let’s protect Buthidaung.”

The majority of Muslims who took part in the protest were reportedly from rural areas. Both communities believed they were either forced or coerced by the regime into staging the protest.

Video clips and photos of the protest were widely shared on social media by pro-junta accounts.

The junta-controlled Myanma Alin newspaper reported on Thursday about the protest, saying that “over 2,000 Muslims from wards and villages in Buthidaung expressed their desire for regional stability.”

A social activist from Arakan State said: “The regime is losing ground in Arakan State. So, it is using Muslims to cause racial conflicts between Arakanese and Muslim communities. The regime is attempting to stir emotions between the two communities, who are getting along with each other.”

The regime has forcibly recruited Muslims in Buthidaung, Maungdaw and Kyaukphyu townships, and sent them to the front line after little or no military training. Many Muslim people are fleeing to areas controlled by the AA.

The AA reported that it found the bodies of Muslims in Rathedaung after it seized the town, and provided accompanying photos.

Arakanese politician U Oo Tun Win said both communities should exercise restraint to avoid being manipulated by the regime.

“The regime is losing the war across the country and is conscripting anyone it can use. The regime is obviously taking steps to create problems between Muslim and Arakanese communities in Arakan State. Both communities must exercise restraint,” he said.

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