Rewriting Reality: The Omission of Arakan Army in Recent Statements
The NUG and US State Department's Blind Spot on Arakan Army
Several statements have emerged about the rapidly deteriorating situation in Arakan. In this essay, I will link five key statements. Two of them conspicuously omit any mention of the Arakan Army (AA), while another two unabashedly lay bare the brutal actions of the AA. The fifth statement, astonishingly, fails to even acknowledge the Myanmar military's role. So, what's really going on here?
In a world where transparency and accountability are paramount, it is nothing short of absurd that certain key statements on the crisis in Arakan have conspicuously avoided naming the Arakan Army (AA), a principal actor in the unfolding humanitarian disaster.
The AA’s actions, from forcibly displacing Rohingya civilians to committing widespread acts of violence and arson, are central to the current turmoil. Failing to mention them by name not only undermines the credibility of these statements but also does a grave disservice to the victims whose suffering demands full and forthright acknowledgment.
Just to summarise briefly, the AA has been accused of launching artillery strikes, using drone bombs, and committing arson attacks on places where Rohingya IDPs were sheltering, resulting in deaths and injuries. They have forcibly recruited Rohingya, incited ethnic hatred by referring to them as "Bengali" and "Muslim extremists," and violated international law through mass killings, abductions, and other war crimes.
Ironically, both the National Unity Government (NUG) and the US State Department, in their well-intentioned but ultimately flawed statements, managed to completely avoid directly mentioning AA. I repeat - It seems almost farcical that the NUG could discuss the violence in Arakan without acknowledging the AA's significant contributions to the chaos. This omission could be seen as an attempt to simplify a complex situation, but it only serves to perpetuate a one-sided narrative that fails to hold all parties accountable. It does a disservice, to put it mildly, not only to the Rohingya but to the credibility of the NUG.
In stark contrast, the Rohingya organisations and the 195 revolutionary forces and civil society organisations have shown commendable clarity and courage. Their statements (particularly that by the Rohingya organisations) do not shy away from the brutal realities on the ground. They pointedly name the AA, detailing its culpability in forced displacements, extrajudicial killings, and other atrocities. By doing so, they ensure that the true scope of the crisis is recognised and that all parties responsible are held to account. This level of forthrightness is essential for any meaningful dialogue and resolution.
Interestingly, the UN also mentioned the Arakan Army (AA) in their statement regarding the deteriorating situation in Myanmar's Rakhine State. The UN rights chief Volker Türk specifically called for rebels from the Arakan Army and Government forces to pause the fighting. This inclusion acknowledges the AA as a significant party involved in the conflict.
Of course, we know that the NUG might omit mention of the AA for several strategic and political reasons, but such omissions are deeply problematic. The NUG may be seeking to maintain or cultivate an alliance with the AA, and mentioning the AA in a negative context could strain relations with this important regional actor. However, this approach reveals a willingness to overlook serious human rights abuses for political convenience. Additionally, while the NUG's statement might aim to focus on broader humanitarian issues and call for international support, believing that emphasising the displacement and violence against civilians is more pressing and unifying than highlighting specific groups, this strategy ultimately falls short. It fails to address the full scope of the crisis and holds back the truth. Explicitly naming the AA could complicate the NUG's broader political strategy but this should not come at the cost of transparency and accountability. By not addressing the AA's role in the violence, the NUG risks undermining its own credibility and the trust of those it seeks to represent and protect.
This omission brings about a sense of déjà vu for Bangladeshis like me who have seen similar omissions in their own history. During periods of military rule in Bangladesh, narratives surrounding the 1971 liberation war often avoided explicitly identifying India as a crucial supporter of Bangladesh's war of liberation against Pakistan. This was part of a broader effort to control the historical narrative, suppress certain truths, and promote a nationalist agenda. It even led to the rehabilitation of alleged war criminals. The “Biharis” will have yet another take on how history is remembered and utilised, and who ended up as victims and who did not in the history books, but that is a story for another day.
Just as various forces in Bangladesh tried to rewrite history to downplay India's role, today's omissions by the NUG and the US State Department serve to obscure the full reality of the conflict in Arakan. The Rohingya organisations and the coalition of 195 revolutionary forces have demonstrated that acknowledging all actors, including the AA, is essential for a truthful and comprehensive understanding of the crisis. The lesson from history is clear - ensure that all perpetrators of violence are held accountable.
And now we come to our final statement, delivered by the leader of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army. This video, recorded on May 15th, was released yesterday (though it says May 20th on the video cover card). The statement by ARSA’s Chief, Abu Ammar Jununi, is a strategic blend of rallying cries and accusations against the Arakan Army, but it conspicuously goes softly softly on the Myanmar military! The alignment they have chosen with the military makes them culpable, and this statement needs to be seen in that light.
Jununi says that the oppression faced by the Rohingya in Arakan was not solely at the hands of the Burmese government, subtly shifting some of the blame away from the central authority. Jununi emphasises that, although Burmese government officials were present in Arakan, the real perpetrators of oppression were high-ranking Rakhine officers within various departments who asserted dominance over the state. His narrative downplays the central role of the Burmese government and military in the systemic persecution of the Rohingya, instead spotlighting the Rakhine officers and the AA as the primary oppressors.
The statement significantly blots ARSA’s copybook, especially given the known cooperation between ARSA and the Myanmar military in the current conflict. By downplaying the role of the central Burmese government and military in the oppression of the Rohingya, and instead focusing almost exclusively on the Arakan Army, Jununi's statement gives away ARSA's motives and alliances. It only serves to tarnish their credibility. The disingenuous portrayal undermines their stated mission of defending the Rohingya as it ignores the overwhelming role of the Myanmar military in the ongoing persecution.
ARSA’s evasion does a grave disservice to the truth and the victims of the conflict. But then again, what else can we expect from an organisation that is itself culpable? Of course, they can't offer an honest account of the situation because doing so would mean admitting their own cooperation with the Myanmar military. Their narrative is as skewed as those statements that conveniently omit the Arakan Army, perpetuating a false and misleading version of events that fails to hold all responsible parties accountable. It's a masterclass in self-serving storytelling, designed to deflect blame and obscure their own complicity.
Video Statement by ARSA’s Chief Abu Ammar Jununi (Full translation of the 13.25 minutes video)
I’m Abu Ammar Jununi, and I’m here today, on the 15th of May, 2024, to talk to you about the situation facing the Rohingya people. I want to address not just our community but also the international community.