BGP Warns of AA-ARSA Joint Attack, Civilians Say “New Propaganda”

Maungdaw — Border Guard Police (BGP) warned Rohingyas in Maungdaw about the possibility of joint attack by Arakan Army (AA) and Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) in the region.

The warning was issued by BGP Commander of Sector 6, Kyauk Hlay Kar of Northern Maungdaw last week during a meeting on Dec. 19, 2019.

According to RV correspondent, the BGP Commanding Office summoned Muslim village administrators, Muslim clergymen and community elders of all the Muslim villages from Urban Maungdaw to Kyauk Hlay Kar and held a meeting at 12:00 pm.

During meeting, the BGP also urged the Rohingyas to stay alert and asked their cooperation against any armed activities if there is.

A villager told RVision “In this region, Rohingyas are very hardly surviving under the tightened security and severe restrictions let alone ARSA’s movements and activities. Government’s warning of any possible attack in this situation means nothing but a new propaganda.” adding “it may be creating a new pretext to destabilize the region of Muslim presence in the whole Maungdaw.”

Notably this is the region (Urban Maungdaw to Kyauk Hlay Kar) where few villages left for Rohingya in the whole township of Maungdaw after the military cleansing operation 2017.

Recently AA Chief Twan Mrat Naing in an interview with Irrawaddy has denied its ties with ARSA and said “I don’t think so.” when asked “Whether ARSA can rear its head again in Maungdaw?”