December 15, 2016

Report: Islamist group in Myanmar rings alarm bell

International Crisis Group has revealed that a well-funded armed Islamist group carried out the attacks on Myanmar security forces in October and November that saw crackdown by the military in retaliation.

Formed after the 2012 riot, the insurgent group, which refers to itself as Harakah al-Yaqin (Faith Movement, HaY), is led by a committee of Rohingyas living in Saudi Arabia and is commanded on the ground by Rohingyas with international training and experience in modern guerrilla war tactics, the Brussels-based group said in a report published yesterday.

“It benefits from the legitimacy provided by local and international fatwas [religious judicial opinions] in support of its cause and enjoys considerable sympathy and backing from Muslims in northern Rakhine State, including several hundred locally-trained recruits.”
Over 20,000 Rohingya Muslims have taken shelter in Bangladesh following the latest attack in Rakhine state since October 9 that killed around 100 people. People who have escaped the attacks are sharing horrific stories of murder and torture. (Courtesy of dhakatribune.com)

No comments:

Post a Comment