ARSA Chief of General Staff Ustad Khalid Junun Addresses Rohingya Community on Arakan Fighting and Camp Crimes

COX'S BAZAR, Bangladesh — Chief of General Staff (CGS) Ustad Khalid Junun of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) has addressed the Rohingya community on recent fighting in northern Arakan State with militant Arakan Army (AA), and alleged crimes and violence inside Rohingya refugee camps by RSO.

Speaking on September 26, Khalid discussed recent fighting between ARSA and the militant AA in northern Arakan State. He referred to fighting on September 24 between the Y Hlan Zone and Mee Zing Fara areas and described the fighting as part of the wider struggle for Rohingya freedom in Arakan.

Khalid said ARSA remains committed to achieving freedom and azadi for the Rohingya in Arakan State under its leader, Hafiz Ata Ullah Abu Ammar Jununi. He praised Jununi and said the ARSA leader had remained in Arakan while other Rohingya leaders and activists had resettled in Europe, the United States and other countries.

He also said the current BNP government would not torture innocent people and claimed that Hafiz Ata Ullah Abuammar Jununi would soon return and present himself to the Rohingya community.

Khalid spoke about violence against Rohingya women, referring to alleged rape, gang rape and other violence by the militant AA and Myanmar military. He linked the armed struggle to the pursuit of justice and freedom for the Rohingya. He also praised the activists of August 25 and claimed that 99 percent of Rohingya support and love our leader Abuammar.

A major part of his address focused on allegations of serious crimes inside the refugee camps, being committed by the Rohingya Solidarity Organization (RSO). He accused the group of rape, gang rape, killings, shootings, robbery, extortion, kidnapping and Yaba drug trafficking with the militant AA. He also accused the RSO of creating disorder and weakening unity within the Rohingya community.

Khalid referred to several alleged incidents in the camps. He mentioned the shooting of Mr. Solim in Jamtoli, the alleged stabbing death of an eight-month pregnant woman, and another incident in Camp 10 in which a woman was allegedly shot while trying to protect her husband, Mohammed Zubair, from being abducted by RSO members. He also referred to allegations of gang rape.

He called on Rohingya victims and witnesses to report crimes to government officials in the refugee camps.

Khalid also challenged the RSO to fight ARSA inside Arakan State if they really want to fight with ARSA rather than in the refugee camps. He said ARSA does not operate in the camps and that its active battlefield is in Arakan State.

In the final part of his speech, Khalid said independence could not be achieved without bloodshed and war. He called for armed struggle in pursuit of Rohingya freedom in Arakan State. He further stated that ARSA is fully committed to armed struggle in pursuit of Rohingya freedom in Arakan State.