Rohingya camps: Arsa riddle needs to be solved: experts

Bangladesh, Education, Help Refugees, Human Rights, Myanmar, Refugees Issues, Religious Rights

Despite the government’s assertions to the contrary, the recent arrest of an Arsa chief’s brother from a Rohingya camp in Cox’s Bazar strongly hints atthe insurgent group’s presence inside the refugee camps, residents and experts said.

Experts also said the government should seriously investigate the arrest of Mohammad Shah Ali, also an alleged operative of Myanmar’s banned organisation Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (Arsa), not only to ascertain the presence of Arsa members in the camps, but also for the sake of ensuring security.

They warned that a volatile situation in the camp would create more uncertainty around the repatriation of the Rohingyas.

A team of the Armed Police Battalion (APBn) arrested Shah Ali, brother of Arsa commander Ataullah Abu Amar Jununi, on January 16 from Noukarmath Rohingya camp in Ukhiya of Cox’s Bazar.

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Following the arrest, APBn filed a case against him. According to the case document, it has been known locally that the arrestee is “an identified Arsa member”.

“He [Shah Ali] is also an armed criminal and kingpin of a gang that is involved with abduction, and also runs drug trading. In interrogation, the accused admitted that he used to keep firearms for security while trading drugs,” it said.

The issue of Arsa’s presence in the country has been widely discussed as Rohingyas and experts believe there are members of the Myanmar insurgent group in the camps. It came to the fore prominently after the murder of popular Rohingya leader Mohib Ullah last year.

However, the government and law enforcers alike maintain this group does not exist in Bangladesh and that some criminals might have falsely identified themselves as Arsa operatives to intimidate the refugees.