What's Happening in Arakan?
The Rohingya's Precarious Balancing Act
In a series of notable events, the Rohingya crisis sees new twists and questions about future strategies. Here's a rundown:
Tun Khin’s Revealing Interview with Zita TV, 3 March 2024 on Rakhine and the Arakan Army's roles and challenges.
The Visit of Tun Khin, Nay San Lwin, and Reza Uddin to Bangladesh, breaking past barriers and hinting at new alliances.
Basmati Restaurant & Tun Khin’s Analogy 10 March 2024 on Truth & Reconciliation in Arakan, threading a fine line between peace and justice.
The Harrowing Massacre of Rohingya in Minbya Township 18 March 2024, a reminder of the ongoing violence and the problem with the “softly, softly” approach.
The Unprecedented Protest by Rohingya in Buthidaung 19 & 20 March 2024, an appeal against war and a signal of dissent against the Arakan Army. Orchestrated by the Myanmar junta.
The above is the cover image for a YouTube video featuring a podcast with Tun Khin, Joint Secretary of Arakan Rohingya National Alliance (ARNA) and President of Burmese Rohingya Organisation, UK or BROUK. Here is the translation of his words between time points 20:50 and 22.09:
“Currently, fighting is happening throughout Myanmar. As I mentioned, every ethnic group in Myanmar that has the power to do so is targeting the military, seeking to reclaim their rights through fighting. For example, the Kachin, Karen, Chin, and Rakhine ethnic groups are all engaged in fighting. The Rakhine are fighting against the military. They are also taking positions in our villages. They should not position themselves in our villages, and we are informing them not to do so. Taking positions in villages amounts to oppressing our people. Although this situation is occurring, the Rakhine ethnic group is among us, and living in Arakan, and they have significant power now. We must understand the necessity of living together with them. It's crucial to approach this situation with great thoughtfulness and care, as it's very sensitive.”
If you recall, I recently translated the words of Tun Khin, Nay San Lwin, and Reza Uddin from their Zoom presentation. In it, Tun Khin recognised the critical role the Arakan Army plays in undermining the military junta's control over the region. He highlighted the need for an understanding of the evolving political context and the risks of the Rohingya being manipulated by the military to confront the Arakan Army. His insistence on the importance of maintaining a harmonious relationship with the Rakhine community, with whom the Rohingya have shared a long history, along with the call for a thoughtful evaluation of the political climate, indicated a preference for a “softly, softly” approach in navigating the current military developments in Arakan, including dealing with the presence and activities of the Arakan Army.
The Zita TV podcast significantly amplifies Tun Khin's "softly, softly" stance. Despite acknowledging the clear problems and oppressions the Arakan Army inflicts within Rohingya communities, Tun Khin persists in his adherence to this cautious stance.
This stance unavoidably sends a troubling message. Tun Khin's public statements appear to tell the Arakan Army: "Proceed as you please. We will not make a public outcry about it."
This perspective has stirred considerable debate among the Rohingya, lighting up discussions across various chat groups. Many view this not just as passive approval but as granting the Arakan Army impunity. Critics argue that Tun Khin's inability to explicitly condemn the Arakan Army's transgressions and the resulting harm to civilians effectively capitulates to a narrative that diminishes the Rohingya to collateral damage in a broader conflict.
The tragic incident on the 18th of March in Tha Dar village, Minbya Township, highlights the short-sightedness of such a passive approach. The Myanmar junta's bombing, allegedly aimed at the Arakan Army, led to the loss of 23 Rohingya lives, with many others wounded, alongside widespread destruction of property and livestock. In his reaction, Tun Khin poignantly queried, “How many more senseless deaths?” - a reflection on the conflict's brutal toll.
However, his critique omits any mention of the Arakan Army's strategic decision to position themselves within civilian areas, a factor that contributed to the village becoming a military target. This silence in the face of a catastrophe, where Tun Khin squarely blames the Myanmar army without acknowledging the Arakan Army's role in escalating the situation to the detriment of civilians, shows a failure to address the full spectrum of accountability. International law emphasises the obligation to protect civilians and avoid actions that jeopardise their safety, a principle repeatedly compromised by the Arakan Army's actions in Rohingya areas. Why can’t Tun Khin point this out clearly? Or will he only do so in a private communication with Arakan Army as he implies in his Zita Podcast?