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Myanmar's Rohingya insurgency has links to Saudi Arabia, Pakistan: report
By Reuters
Published: December 15, 2016
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A group of Rohingya Muslims that attacked Myanmar border guards in October is headed by people with links to Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, the International Crisis Group (ICG) said on Thursday, citing members of the group.
The coordinated attacks on October 9 killed nine policemen, and sparked a crackdown by security forces in Muslim-majority Rakhine State in northwest Myanmar.
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At least 86 people have been killed, according to state media, and the United Nations has estimated 27,000 members of the largely stateless Rohingya minority have fled across the border to Bangladesh.
Predominantly Buddhist Myanmar’s government, led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, blamed Rohingyas supported by foreign militants for the October 9 attacks, but has issued scant further information about the assailants it called “terrorists”.
A group calling itself Harakah al-Yakin claimed responsibility for the attacks in video statements and the Brussels-based ICG said it had interviewed four members of the group in Rakhine State and two outside Myanmar, as well as individuals in contact with members via messaging apps.
The Harakah al-Yakin, or Faith Movement, was formed after communal violence in 2012 in which more than 100 people were killed and about 140,000 displaced in Rakhine State, most of them Rohingya, the group said.
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Rohingya who have fought in other conflicts, as well as Pakistanis or Afghans, gave clandestine training to villagers in northern Rakhine over two years ahead of the attacks, it said.
“It included weapons use, guerrilla tactics and, HaY members and trainees report, a particular focus on explosives and IEDs,” the group said, referring to improvised explosive devices.
It identified Harakah al-Yakin’s leader, who has appeared prominently in a series of nine videos posted online, as Ata Ullah, born in Karachi, Pakistan, to a Rohingya migrant father before moving as a child to Makkah in Saudi Arabia.
“Though not confirmed, there are indications he went to Pakistan and possibly elsewhere, and that he received practical training in modern guerrilla warfare,” the group said, noting that Ata Ullah was one of 20 Rohingya from Saudi Arabia leading the group’s operations in Rakhine State.
Separately, a committee of 20 senior Rohingya emigres oversees the group, which has its headquarters in Mecca, the ICG said.
Groups like Islamic State and al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent have referred to the plight of the Rohingya in their material, and the battlefield experience of at least some of the Rohingya fighters implied links to international militants, the ICG said.
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However, ICG said the group has notably not engaged in attacks on the civilian Buddhist population in Rakhine. And Harakah al-Yakin’s statements to date indicate its main goals are to end the persecution of the Rohingya in Myanmar and secure the minority’s citizenship status.
“It is possible, however, that its objectives could evolve, given its appeals to religious legitimacy and links to international jihadist groups, so it is essential that government efforts do not focus only or primarily on military approaches, but also address underlying community grievances and suffering,” the ICG said.
Are they really terrorists though?Myanmar should teach rohingya terrorists a lesson.
What happened is that, this cycle of violence started after Rohingya militants ambushed Burmese soldiers.Are they really terrorists though?
Would like some links....
Maybe you are right. I am not so clued up on this topic.What happened is that, this cycle of violence started after Rohingya militants ambushed Burmese soldiers.
The Burmese military retaliated brutally and in the process unfortunately many Rohingya civilians were among those killed.
Rohingya are pre partition Indian muslims.. Who been there as Indian govt employees . After British rule they been isolated on the basis hate against Indian.Myanmar should teach rohingya terrorists a lesson.
New Recruit
Pakistan Thinks business so does other muslim nation. Realistically we muslims can never unite, we are still living under the effects of colonization. May Allah protect these innocents AmeenPakistan is showing solidarity with Myanmar government by selling them JF-17 which might be used against Rohingyas
Pakistan Thinks business so does other muslim nation. Realistically we muslims can never unite, we are still living under the effects of colonization. May Allah protect these innocents Ameen
Pakistan is showing solidarity with Myanmar government by selling them JF-17 which might be used against Rohingyas
However, ICG said the group has notably not engaged in attacks on the civilian Buddhist population in Rakhine.
You forgot Hurricane Matthew and Donald Trump's hair.They forgot to mention that Brexit, World War 2 & the 2008 financial crash has it's origins in Pakistan aswell.
Before you talk about gujrat you should remember its muslims who started a roit by buring a train full of hindus..Modi has emboldened the Hindu terrorists throughout to express their hatred towards minorities specially Muslims. People are getting killed now just on suspicion of keeping beef in their homes.
If I understand you correctly, your are implying that Muslims of India have been terrorizing the Hindus of India? If so, may I know when this happened? Last time I checked, thousands of Muslims were burned to death under watchful eyes of Modi.
And when you are finishing off the Muslims in India ? I guess you lot are not "smart" enough!