October 14, 2016

Myanmar blames Islamist group for attacks in Rohingya Muslim region

Myanmar's government said on Friday (Oct 14) a group inspired by Islamist militants was behind attacks on police border posts in its ethnically riven northwest, as officials said they feared a new insurgency by members of the Rohingya Muslim minority.

The sudden escalation of violence in Rakhine state poses a serious challenge to the six-month-old government led by Aung San Suu Kyi, who was swept to power in an election last year but has faced criticism abroad for failing to tackle rights abuses against the Rohingya and other Muslims.

A statement from the office of Myanmar's President Htin Kyaw blamed the little-known "Aqa Mul Mujahidin" for recent attacks around Maungdaw Township, a mainly Muslim area near the frontier with Bangladesh. (Courtesy of channelnewsasia.com)

Myanmar gov't still to name group behind Rakhine attack

Myanmar’s military has captured another suspected militant following deadly attacks on police stations in troubled western Rakhine State.

But six days on, authorities are still to name the group responsible, with police and authorities blaming a shadowy militant group, local drug traffickers, and others speculating that the attacks may have been a set up to further trample the rights of a local Muslim population.

The man -- captured Thursday in Warpaik village in Rakhine’s Maungdaw Township during ongoing area clearance operations -- is the fifth to be held since at least 39 people -- nine police, four soldiers and 26 suspected attackers -- were killed following attacks on three police station outposts in Maungdaw and Yathay Taung townships early Sunday. (Courtesy of aa.com.tr)

Authorities Plot to Escalate Violence against Rohingya Using Hindus in Muslim Disguise

The Burmese authorities backed by an extremist section of Rakhine society are plotting to escalate an already ongoing military violence against the local Rohingya civilians in Maungdaw tonight by using some members of the local Hindu community, who look like Rohingyas in appearances, a reliable source reports.

The Hindus have been trained how to recite some Quranic verses and chant Takbir ‘Allahu Akbar.’ According to latest reports, around 100 Hindus have gathered before the Maungdaw Hospital in Muslim dress-up and disguised as local Rohingya Muslims since 9:00 PM (Myanmar Time).

They are expected to chat ‘Allahu Akbar’ and instigate local Muslims, who are unaware of the plot staged by the authorities, to violently act against the authorities tonight in the name of ‘Jihad.’ If not tonight, it is expected in anytime soon. (Courtesy of rvisiontv.com)

OIC expresses concern over violence in Myanmar

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has expressed grave concern at the eruption of violence in Rakhine state following attacks by unidentified insurgents against Myanmar border facilities on October a which resulted in the deaths of several security personnel and insurgents. The OIC calls for a full investigation into the incident to determine the perpetrators in order to bring them to justice.

The OIC has received disturbing reports of extra judicial killings of Rohingya Muslims, burning of houses, and arbitrary arrests by security forces in Maungdaw Township and other villages in Northern Rakhine State. The situation has caused many Rohingya to flee their villages and the subsequent blockade in the region has also left many in the area facing acute shortages of food, water and essentials. (Courtesy of pakobserver.net)

New fears of communal violence in Myanmar

NINE police officers were killed early on October 9th in a series of apparently co-ordinated attacks on border-guard posts in the troubled state of Rakhine in Myanmar’s west. The attackers were armed with knives, slingshots and only a few guns—and reportedly made off with dozens more guns and thousands of bullets. The Buddhist majority in Rakhine has long oppressed the state’s Muslim Rohingyas. Now the victims may be starting to fight back.

Nobody has yet claimed responsibility, but police say the attackers—at least two of whom were captured and eight killed—were Rohingyas. One local official blamed the Rohingya Solidarity Organisation, a militant group that has been dormant for decades. The two who were detained reportedly told authorities that they planned the raids with fellow locals. (Courtesy of economist.com)