The latest violence in western Myanmar’s Rakhine State began on August 25 when ARSA militants attacked about 30 police posts and an army camp, killing about 12 people. The United Nations has described as ethnic cleansing a sweeping government offensive in the north of Rakhine State in response to those attacks. The government said a search was mounted near Ye Baw Kya village in the north of Rakhine State after a refugee in Bangladesh contacted a Hindu community leader in Myanmar. An ARSA spokesman said he believed Buddhist nationalists trying to divide Hindus and Muslims were behind the “lies” that ARSA militants had killed the villagers. Myanmar objects to the term Rohingya, saying the Muslims of Rakhine State are not a distinct ethnic group but illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.

Source: Dhaka Tribune September 25, 2017 02:48 UTC