Myanmar Spring Chronicle – May 22 Scenes
MoeMaKa, May 23, 2024
Rohingya and Arakan Army in Buthidaung Township, Rakhine State
The National Unity Government (NUG) issued a statement urging the protection of civilians during recent battles and operations in Rakhine State, particularly in the Buthidaung area. This statement was directed not only at the Military Council armed forces but also at the Arakan Army operating in northern Rakhine State. The NUG expressed concerns about the destruction of homes belonging to Rakhine, Rohingya, and Hindu people, forced displacement, and aerial bombardments in the Buthidaung region. They called for the protection of vulnerable groups, including children and the elderly, and for the right to receive humanitarian aid, including cross-border assistance.
The Commander-in-Chief of the Arakan Army, believed to be responding to this announcement, wrote on social media, equating the NUG to the Military Council. He commented, “I pray for the political future they deserve for the hypocritical friends who act to the likes of donors rather than the pertinent truth.”
The relationship between the NUG and the Arakan Army (AA) is somewhat distant compared to other ethnic armed groups. The AA has a close relationship with the two other armed groups in the Northern Alliance, the Ta’ang Palaung group TNLA, and the Kokang group MNDAA. However, it does not have such a close relationship or cooperation with the NUG, except for a few discussions. Externally, the AA has maintained a good relationship with the Rohingya ethnic groups over the past few years. Recently, the Military Council has pressured the Rohingya refugee camp and recruited soldiers, which has sparked a potential conflict between the AA and the Rohingya. The Military Council’s forced anti-AA protests by the Rohingya have led to misunderstandings between the AA and the Rohingya people. Following this, houses in Buthidaung town were burned, and valuables were taken, exacerbating tensions between the Rakhine and Rohingya people.
The AA has managed to capture towns, villages, military camps, and strategic bases in Rakhine State rapidly and aims to capture more. Consequently, the AA has urged residents to evacuate the cities, but has faced criticism for the short notice given for these evacuations to facilitate city-occupation battles.
The day after the NUG’s statement, 195 civil society organizations issued another statement urging armed forces to protect civilians. Some Western governments, the United Nations Human Rights Organization, and Rohingya organizations are concerned that the recent armed conflicts and military operations might lead to civilian casualties based on race and religion, similar to the 2017 genocide. Civil organizations worry that armed forces may attack and kill depending on their definition of enemy or friend.
There is also a view that this kind of provocative statement is issued due to an anti-AA sentiment. The AA group and some Rakhine people believe that such statements are made to appease donor countries reliant on Western aid. While military force is crucial in fighting against military dictatorship and can lead to federal and democratic systems, it is also essential for armed groups to treat civilians with human rights and avoid discrimination.