Irrawaddy-Sept 29
Rakhine State-based ethnic revolutionary group the United League of Arakan (ULA) has urged the Bangladeshi government to investigate and take swift action against Bangladeshi officials allegedly backing militant groups the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) and Rohingya Solidarity Organization (RSO). The Arakan Army (AA) is the armed wing of ULA. In its Saturday statement, the ethnic group alleged that some officers of Bangladesh’s Border Guard (BGB) were backing Rohingya armed groups based along the border, warning that such actions could undermine border stability, security, and bilateral relations. The ULA said corrupt BGB officers, who support the groups’ extremist ideology, along with others who back their military activities, have been complicit in permitting, assisting and encouraging their actions. “The government of Bangladesh must urgently identify and take action against these elements,” said the ULA. The group said that since Sept. 16 ARSA has been making preparations—including conducting drone surveillance and blockading supply routes—to seize AA outposts in northern Maungdaw Township, and in one case launched a failed attack. The ULA said ARSA and the RSO are cooperating militarily with the Myanmar junta, receiving arms and ammunition from the military while jointly targeting AA positions. It alleged that some BGB officers have provided direct backing to ARSA, and that the group has even established fortified positions near BGB camps. It urged the international community to monitor the situation closely and called on Dhaka to prioritize cooperation with the AA to prevent further escalation. Read more at: https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/myanmars-crisis-the-world/myanmars-aa-urges-dhaka-to-probe-border-officers-backing-rohingya-militants.html
