Rohingya women and children were seen waiting on the border to enter into Bangladesh territory to escape Myanmar army atrocity |Dhaka Tribune“We want to go back to our village to join the fight against the Myanmar military. Either the Myanmar army personnel will die or we. We cannot endure such atrocities anymore. We are all members of Harakat al-Yaqeen, (the former name of ARSA),” said a Rohingya man named Irfan. Gunshots and mortar shells have increased since August 25, said several BGB men patrolling the Ghumdum border. The Rohingya men waiting at the border did not seem afraid of those heavy firing and sound of the mortars, rather they were motivated to fight back. Dhaka Tribune received an audio clip of ARSA chief Ata Ullah aka Abu Umar Al Junoni from the ARSA followers and supporters. Ata Ullah said: “I am not fighting to grab power. If there are any Rohingya brothers who are ready to fight, please join us, please save our mothers and sisters.” Several Rohingyas sent pictures of ARSA leaders and fighters to the Dhaka Tribune, claiming they were freedom fighters. Dhaka Tribune could not contact ARSA leaders directly as ARSA followers said their leaders were in the battle field. Sources said ARSA was fighting with a small team, but it was getting larger as many Rohingyas were joining them. The Central Committee for Counter Terrorism of Myanmar, in a statement published on August 25, declared armed attackers and ARSA as terrorist groups in accordance with the Counter-Terrorism Law of the country, China's Xinhua news agency reported.But the ARSA followers and members told Dhaka Tribune that they started the movement as the Myanmar military’s atrocities became intolerable. ARSA in its Twitter page claimed they began the resistance as a defence against the Myanmar military and security forces. ARSA supporters also said that several Rohingya Muslims had been killed in Maungdaw, Rathedaung and Buthidaung townships in the Rakhine state, but there were no Buddhist casualties during the crackdown. Supporter claimed their leader Ata Ullah and fighters were not targeting the Rakhine people, rather their target was the Myanmar military.
Humanitarian crisis
In many videos provided by several Rohingyas, hundreds of Rohingyas in Rathedaung were seen hiding in the nearby forests and mountains to escape the military atrocities. They were afraid of further Myanmar security forces’ raid in those hideouts as well. Rohingya homes were being burned down by the state armed forces and Rakhine extremists, Rohingyas hiding in the mountains said. Most of the houses in Rathedaung, Chein Khali, Chein Halivillages were torched by the Myanmar joint forces, said the terrified Rohingyas.“Our region is in total chaos now. They have burnt down our homes using fire, mortars. They have seized our properties and forced us to leave our homes. We have become totally helpless. We don't know where we will go now,” said one villager Zaydi Pyinover phone. Myanmar military and joint security forces are carrying out offensives in many villages of Rakhine state including Kwan Thi Pin, MiHtaikChaungWa, Nat Chaung, Taman Thar, Zee Pin Chaung, Lon Doong, Zin Paing Nya, Ye MyetTaung, Kyi KanPyin, Tharay Kun Baung, Pa Nyaung Pin Gyi, Padin, Alay Than Kyaw, ThawanChaung, ThinbawKwe, Udaung, MyintHlut, Taung Bazaar, Phaung Daw Pyin.URGENT: Rakhine political groups & Intl Govts MUST immediately put pressure on Burmese army to stop using Rakhine Civilians as Human Shields pic.twitter.com/MYA5nCLqON
— ARSA_The Army (@ARSA_Official) August 27, 2017
