Rohingya Muslim insurgents said they have no option but to fight Myanmar state-sponsored terrorism to defend the Rohingya community. According to Reuters, Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (Harkatul Yaqeen) demanded that the Rohingya be consulted on all decisions affecting their future.
In a statement posted on Twitter, ARSA leader stated “ARSA has . . . no other option but to combat ‘Burmese state-sponsored terrorism’ against the Rohingya population for the purpose of defending, salvaging and protecting the Rohingya community.”
Last Friday, the small insurgent group ambushed a Myanmar military truck, wounding several members of the security forces.
It must be recalled that the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) launched raids on the Myanmar security forces on August 25th, sparking sweeping counter-insurgency operations in the Muslim-majority north of Rakhine State that led to widespread violence and arson and an exodus of some 650,000 Rohingya villagers to Bangladesh and other countries.
The United Nations has called the Myanmar military campaign as ethnic cleansing.
Rohingya Muslims have for years been denied citizenship and freedom of movement.