According to the current situation, the Arakan Army (AA) is attacking the military council troops in Maungdaw, a border town in the northern part of Rakhine State, and AA has announced that they will be able to capture it in the near future. At the same time, the whole world is observing with interest what will happen to the Muslims living in the area if only AA is able to fully control the Maungdaw area.
We can also see that political analysts are unanimously commenting that Maungdaw is on the verge of being captured by AA. The International Crisis Group (ICG) has also urged the government of neighboring Bangladesh, which has many Muslim refugee camps, to hold meetings with the AA. It said, they considered that the AA would soon be able to completely defeat the military council forces that invaded the Rakhine region.
In addition, the report said that it is time for Bangladesh to pay attention to legal issues and border security. However, Muslims living in Rakhine are facing difficulties due to some Muslims living abroad and armed Muslims who are opposing the AA within the military council’s manipulations.
If Maungdaw is occupied by AA, how will Muslims be allowed to live?
In fact, the military council’s border fence in Maungdaw area, located on the densely populated Bangladesh border, has been collapsing for years. AA still faces various sensitive situations as some of those in the Bangladeshi refugee camps are inciting inter-ethnic bloodshed. On the other hand, the government of Bangladesh is struggling with the issue of more than one million refugees.And the insecure border problem is once again facing a big burden on the Bangladeshi government.
Apart of these concerning issues, it has been reported that there are now people in the Bangladeshi refugee camps protesting against the AA. Regarding this, the Rakhine people believe that the AA has likely already devised strategies to carefully handle and resolve the situation.
In the very near future, there may be changes in the leadership of Bangladesh. If this occurs, the country may be governed by those who prioritize and support the impoverished and underprivileged. Many problems can arise during these changes. Even now, we can see that the problems in Bangladesh are smoldering. Therefore, it is possible that the Muslims who are facing the huge population density may try to settle in the areas of Rakhine state on purpose. This should be considered as a special concern for the Rakhine State.
At the same time, some pressured the issue of re-accepting the refugees. Not only extremist armed groups such as RSO, ARA, and ARSA, but also smaller armed groups supported by the military junta have committed acts of looting, abduction, killing the people, and have also burned and destroyed homes. Despite the ongoing conflicts, it is observed that AA is providing rescue operations and medical assistance to Muslim villagers trapped in the war, offering help without discriminating based on ethnicity or religion.
A Muslim who was rescued from the battle said, "Thank you very much to AA for helping me escape from such a battle. They also helped carry our children. And, they provide roofs so that we can live under shelter. They gave us rice and edible oil. Now we are no longer robbed by terrorist Muslim insurgents. In the past, there was looting and killing."Some political analysts said that if this kind of understanding is fully achieved, Rakhine and Muslims will be able to live together, and if violence continues, good results will not be achieved.
One of the political analysts commented that “Mainly Sittwe City. After conquering Sittwe, the rest of the cities will not be too difficult. The capital of the state will also fall. And, If Ann also falls, the island that stands separately like Manaung will already be taken. At that time, we should be able to live together well. If they stand on the side of the enemy and attack the AA only because of jealousy and desire for territory, coexistence will be difficult.”
Meanwhile, some so-called expatriate politicians are also spreading false news about AA for their income. But on the ground, AA is working to prove that it is fully human and equal.
In 2012, some Muslims gathered their forces and tried to burn Rakhine and other ethnic villages and loot the area, that’s why it took several years to heal.
AA, which has been attacking Maungdaw day and night, can now enter the city, and since there are only a few military council camps left, it is certain that Maungdaw city will fall into the hands of AA. But we don’t see Muslims fleeing to Bangladesh and they are not trying to flee like they used to. By seeing this, we can to know that the local Muslims have faith in AA. Therefore, if they stand faithfully on the rules and regulations that will be established by the Arakan Army, they will be able to live together regardless of religion.
In Rakhine State, the majority of people follow Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, and Islam. The coexistence of these four major religions will likely become more evident in the near future, and it will be important to observe how it develops across the region.
According to the latest news, the Arakan Army (AA) has taken control of Maungdaw town, with only one remaining military post located in the Myothugyi Ward at the town’s entrance, as reported by local residents. Therefore, AA will be able to completely occupy northern Rakhine except for Sittwe.
It has been reported that intense fighting is taking place in Gwa Township, the southernmost town of Rakhine State and civilian casualties due to the involvement of eight naval vessels providing support.
Anyway, as the AA (Arakan Army) is now about to take control of the Maungdaw region, peaceful coexistence between the two ethnic has become a critical issue. Therefore, we must closely monitor what will happen next.
Translated by Nga Lar Guage
