Unveiling Atrocities: The Arakan Army’s Reign of Terror
Yangon, 12 February 2024
It has come to attention that the spokesperson for AA (Arakan Army) has evaded addressing a significant inquiry posed by the BBC news agency regarding the historical genocide perpetrated by the AA insurgents on the massacre of 912 women and children on 8 February. During the interview, they failed to provide a satisfactory response.
In their recent statement, issued following Operation 1027, AA confessed to targeting individuals who refused to surrender and attempted to flee via boats. Tragically, this included innocent civilians, including women and children who are family member of Myanmar Government employees, aboard unarmed landing crafts typically utilized for river transportation, akin to practices in other nations.
Reports indicate that these 912 women and children refugees, were fleeing the conflict, seeking refuge from the ongoing battle. AA insurgents, used fishing nets to tangle engines of the boats before employing drones and gunfire, ruthlessly targeted the boats, resulting in their sinking and forcing the occupants to swim for their lives. Upon reaching the shore, survivors recount harrowing tales of being subjected to further violence—rapped, chopped, stabbed, and shot—by AA operatives and other Rakhine Buddhist extremists who support the AA.
The origins of AA trace back to a small fraction of extremists driven by ethnic animosity in 2009. Their reign of terror extended throughout the tenure of the NLD (National League for Democracy) government, which governed Myanmar from 2015 to 2020. During this period, AA militants engaged in various criminal activities, including the abduction of NLD party members, elected members of parliament and assaults on government forces. The last general election of 2020 was not able to hold in Rakhine state as the AA refused to recognize the Myanmar constitution and authority of Aung San Suu Kyi’s democratically elected Government.
Furthermore, reports indicate AA’s involvement in the extensive drug trafficking network prevalent in Myanmar. The 2017 report on Rakhine State’s Rohingya conflict prepared by former UN Chief Kofi Anan stated the AA as the Drug cartel and all the recent local and international reports indicate AA as one of the largest armed cartels in the world. It is essential to note that the Rakhine community, comprising over 2 million individuals residing peacefully in Myanmar and neighboring regions, largely condemns AA’s terrorist activities.
In light of these grave developments, it is imperative for stakeholders to unite in condemning such atrocities and to work towards restoring peace and security in the region.
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