The Arakan Army (AA) urges the Muslim community to refuse the forced recruitment by the coup military council into the army, which poses a significant threat to the coexistence of the two communities.
According to the AA’s statement, the military council, facing setbacks in the Rakhine State conflict, is resorting to conscripting Muslims into the military, exacerbating tensions between the two communities.
The AA said that during political crises, the coup military council in Rakhine state, frequently stokes ethnic and religious divisions between the Muslim communities, now extending to recruitment efforts for military service.
Furthermore, the AA has emphasized its efforts towards fostering social harmony and coexistence between the diverse communities in the Rakhine region since its inception, yielding positive outcomes.
The statement condemns the forced enlistment of Muslims, including civilians, into the military, deeming it not only a perilous path to death but also a grave threat to the future stability, peace, unity, and development of Rakhine State.
Recalling the 2017 mass killings of Muslims in Rakhine State by the Myanmar military council, which led to the displacement of thousands, the AA contends that the current recruitment drive aims at perpetrating further atrocities against Muslims, constituting a war crime.
The AA asserts that the military council’s sinister agenda not only fuels long-term conflict between Rakhine and Muslim communities but also undermines the prospects of repatriation for Muslim refugees.
Consequently, the AA calls upon the international community, including ASEAN countries, neighboring nations, and the European Union, to closely monitor the actions of the coup military council.
