September 19th, 2022
The Arakan Army (AA) is seeking an internationally recognized government and will officially announce a policy to resolve the current Muslim issue once it reaches a position where it can cooperate with the international community, AA spokesman U Khaing Thukha said in a press conference on Sept. 19th.
“Currently, the United League of Arakan/Arakan Army (ULA /AA) is still trying to become an internationally recognized government for Arakan. Once the ULA /AA reaches a position where it can officially talk to the international community, we, the ULA /AA, will make an official announcement on the policy to resolve this issue [Muslim issue] and how we can cooperate with the United Nations including neighboring Bangladesh on the basis of justice, peace and harmony. At the moment, it is a little too early,” he said.
To solve the problem of Muslims, including the repatriation of Muslims who have fled and found refuge in Bangladesh, the Bangladesh government, the UN and world powers should stand by the side of the United League of Arakan/Arakan Army (ULA /AA), U Khaing Thukha said.
“If the ULA /AA is to solve this problem [the Muslim issue], firstly, the international community and the Bangladesh government must recognize the ULA /AA as the main actor. Secondly, the world powers, including Bangladesh and UN, must fully support and stand by the ULA /AA,” he said.
“When that day comes, we will officially announce the policy of AA to repatriate and resettle refugees as we want to resolve the situation through a mutually acceptable solution based on justice and peace so that we can live together in peace in the long run,” U Khaing Thukha added.
U Khaing Thukha said that the problem of displaced people is a widespread problem throughout Myanmar, including in Rakhine State. The ULA /AA also expressed sympathy with all those suffering from the Myanmar military junta’s operations and “area clearance operations” and repatriating Muslims who have fled en masse from northern Maungdaw Township to Bangladesh.
Following the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army’s (ARSA) attacks on police posts in Maungdaw Township, Rakhine State, in 2017, the Myanmar’s military conducted clearance operations and displaced more than 700,000 Muslims to Bangladesh.
During the National League for Democracy (NLD) government led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, many attempts were made to repatriate the Muslim refugees, but the efforts were unsuccessful.
Currently, the military council is apparently trying to expedite the repatriation of the Muslims. In July, the regime told the media that it was prepared to accept repatriation by the end of September and that it would initially take back 700 Muslims.
In addition, the National Unity Government (NUG) announced in August that it was attempting to work with the United Nations, the government of Bangladesh, and relevant ethnic organizations to create favorable conditions for the repatriation of the Muslims.
However, due to ongoing domestic unrest and the complicated political situation created by the Feb. 24 military coup, Muslims do not want to return to the country, political analysts said.
Sent by DMG.