- Web Master
- September 16, 2024
The junta forces have reportedly paid the Muslims in
Sittwe township of Rakhine State to protest against the Arakha Army (AA)
fighters.
Around 1,000 Muslims launched a protest program
starting from Bu May Muslim village under Sittwe on Saturday where they
held banners that read ‘AA is not wanted in Rakhine land’.
"We were pressured by the junta people to join in
the protest. They even threaten to incite ethnic conflicts as happened in 2012.
Some Muslims are protesting out of fear. Armed military personnel were seen
with the protesters," said a Muslim youth, who fled to avoid joining the
program.
The junta has also offered incentives Kyats 200,000 to
400,000 to the Muslims, who participated in the protest against the AA. At
the same time, they threatened actions against those who refused.
On 6 April, Rakhine chief minister summoned many
Muslim village administrators and leaders from Sittwe township to his government office and compelled
them to organize an anti-AA protest rally on 20 April.
They ordered that over 1,000 Muslim individuals (who
are above the age of 18) from Aung Mingalar, Ma Gyi Myaing, Kathae
and Bu May wards in Sittwe township along with nearby Muslim villages
must participate in the protest.
Major general Zaw Min Tun, spokesperson for the
Myanmar junta, however clarified that there was no plan to incite ethnic
or religious conflicts between the Rakhine and Muslim people in Rakhine State.
But a Muslim elder revealed that the junta's local administrative bodies were
fuelling ethnic conflicts.
"The junta is deliberately stoking up ethnic
conflicts between the two communities. Till date both the Rakhine and Muslim
people are living peacefully here. As the junta soldiers are facing defeats in many Rakhine battles,
they are fuelling the conflicts. The Muslim community should understand it.
Their compliance with the junta's demands may be aroused due to fear for their
lives. Nonetheless, we stand united in the Rakhine land,” said a local
resident.
In Buthidaung locality, where many people have sought
refuge, the junta soldiers compelled Muslims to destroy several Rakhine houses
with an intention to fuel ethnic conflicts.
The local Muslims there protested on 19 March against
the AA. Similarly on 21 and 22 March, several Muslims staged protests in Sittwe
holding banners reading ‘We don't want the AA’.