Nearly 8,000 Rohingya flee to Bangladesh in recent months
The number of Rohingya who have fled across the border to Bangladesh from Burma to seek refuge from the fighting between the Arakan Army (AA) and military in northern Arakan State has reached nearly 8,000 over the past few months, according to Bangladesh officials.
“Bangladesh is already overburdened and unable to accommodate any more Rohingya,” Mohammad Shamsud Douza, the deputy Bangladesh government official in charge of refugees, told Reuters. Interim leader Muhammed Yunus pledged to continue supporting the one million Rohingya living in refugee camps near Cox’s Bazar on Aug. 18. The Bangladesh interim government will hold a cabinet meeting within the next few days to address the most recent influx of refugees.
Mohammad Touhid Hossain, Bangladesh’s foreign affairs advisor, urged other countries to take greater action to support the Rohingya. The U.N. has stated that there are 630,000 Rohingya living in Arakan State. A 2017 military operation in northern Arakan forced over 700,000 Rohingya to flee into Bangladesh, which was labeled a genocide by the U.S. in 2022.
Bangladesh asked to protect Rohingya
The Burmese Rohingya Organisation U.K. (BROUK) released a statement on Tuesday calling on the interim government of Bangladesh to take action to support Rohingya refugees. It recommended that Dhaka strengthen security in refugee camps located near Cox’s Bazar, stop pushing back Rohingya trying to leave Burma, and increase financial support for refugees.
“The interim government has a crucial opportunity to affirm its commitment to human rights by immediately halting pushbacks and ensuring that all refugees receive the protection and support guaranteed by international law,” said Tun Khin, the BROUK president.
The interim government in Bangladesh took power after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled to India following student-led anti-government protests on Aug. 5. Human rights groups claim that Rohingya have been targeted by both the military and Arakan Army (AA) during fighting in northern Arakan’s Maungdaw and Buthidaung townships since May.
China Special Envoy meets Kachin Independence Army
The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) spokesperson Naw Bu confirmed to DVB that the ethnic armed group met with China’s Special Envoy for Asian Affairs Deng Xijun to discuss Burma-China border security. He said that the KIA met with a delegation from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, led by Deng Xijun, in Tianjin, located 85 miles (137 km) southeast of the capital Beijing, during the last week of August.
“I didn’t know the exact details of what was discussed yet,” Naw Bu told DVB. Political analyst Dr. Hla Kyaw Zaw said that Deng Xijun has met with all ethnic armed groups operating in northern Shan State, including the United Wa State Army (UWSA), last month to discuss peace along the 1,323 mile (2,129 km) long border. DVB has yet to confirm meetings between members of the Brotherhood Alliance and Chinese officials.
News by Region
KARENNI—The Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF) stated on Tuesday that the military burned down more than 40 civilian homes in villages located along the Loikaw-Demoso Road in August. The military launched a new offensive against the KNDF around the state capital Loikaw on Aug. 1.
“We withdrew our forces from some areas in Loikaw but the military did not retake [it]” a KNDF spokesperson told DVB. He claimed that the KNDF seized control of two military outposts in Bawlakhe Township, located in central Karenni State, in August.
KACHIN—The Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO/KIA) announced that it started operating public transit services in areas under its control on Sept. 2. Buses now connect the KIO headquarters of Laiza to surrounding Waingmaw and Bhamo townships. Bus fare per trip costs 2,500-5,000 kyat.
“The service is run by the KIO because it is difficult for people to travel in the area,” a resident of Laiza told DVB. This is the first public transit system offered in Kachin. The KIA has seized control of several military outposts along the Bhamo-Myitkyina road, as well as the Burma-China border town of Lwegel, since it launched its offensive against the military on March 7.
MANDALAY—The Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) spokesperson Lway Yay Oo told DVB that it is providing free internet access in Mogok Township, located 128.5 miles (207 km) northeast of Mandalay. Some residents have complained to the TNLA that they’ve been charged 5,000 kyat per hour to access the internet.
“There are people who purchased Starlink and are offering access in exchange for payment. We have two Starlink devices in our offices in the east and west of the town, but we are providing free internet access,” said Lway Yay Oo. The regime cut off all telecommunication services to Mogok after the TNLA seized control of the town on July 24.
SHAN—Min Aung Hlaing arrived in the state capital Taunggyi on Monday. Residents reported that security has increased and street vendors were ordered to close until Sept. 7 when he is scheduled to leave. Police officers and armed men in civilian clothes were seen patrolling Taunggyi streets.
“Motorbikes are not allowed to park beside main roads. Night markets will be closed [until Saturday]. People are not allowed to line up to buy edible oil. We heard he will visit Shwe Bone Pwint pagoda to perform a ritual,” a Taunggyi resident told DVB.
(Exchange rate: $1 USD = 5,670 kyat)
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