OIC Meets Armed Group Affiliates in Rohingya Camps
Rohingya Camp Visit Sparks Controversy
Update 3 March: OIC Special Envoy Ibrahim Khairat has locked his Facebook page after revelations that he met with Rohingya armed group affiliates in Bangladesh’s refugee camps.
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation’s (OIC) Special Envoy to Myanmar, Mr Ibrahim Khairat, just wrapped up a visit to Bangladesh’s Rohingya camps. On the surface, it looked like a simple humanitarian mission. But look closer: the people he chose to meet apparently include characters linked to armed groups, smuggling rings, and even Myanmar’s military. This raises a whole host of troubling questions about who he’s really talking to…and why.
My latest investigation uncovers the affiliations of those in attendance. Some of those present were linked to the Rohingya Solidarity Organisation (RSO) and factions operating under the command of Dil Mohammed, a figure notorious for his dealings with Myanmar’s junta and using heavy-handed tactics to recruit people inside the camps.
Who Was in the Room?
The article names key individuals, including a known Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) operative who went into hiding after the assassination of Rohingya leader Mohibullah. Another figure present was a former intelligence collaborator accused of oppressing Rohingya both in Myanmar and in the camps.
Responses and Non-Responses
In response to my inquiries, RSO issued a carefully worded denial, stating, “No one has met with the OIC representative as an RSO representative.” This statement does not explicitly deny that RSO members were present, but rather that they were not there in an official capacity.
ARSA, however, has remained silent. They have yet to respond to questions about whether any of their members attended the meeting.
The OIC itself has also not responded to requests (sent by email, by web form and phone calls) for clarification on why these particular individuals were in the room.
The Public Interest
If the OIC’s mission is to advocate for the rights of the Rohingya, how does engaging with individuals who have been accused of coercion and criminal activity serve that cause?
Read the full investigation in the Dhaka Tribune here:
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