Thousands Flee As Rohingya Militants And Myanmar Security Forces Battle In Rakhine State

Asia Times: Rohingya insurgency declares ‘open war’ in Myanmar

In an exclusive interview with Asia Times, the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army said its August 25 attacks were staged in 'self-defense' and would continue until Rohingya rights are restored.

The surprise wave of lethal attacks by Rohingya militants on police and army posts in Myanmar’s western Rakhine State, their largest operation to date, was a defensive move aimed at pre-empting an escalating security force crackdown on both the rebels’ military wing and Rohingya civilian communities, a senior militant official has told Asia Times.

Speaking in an exclusive interview on the day after the attacks of August 25, the militant official said the campaign of Myanmar military suppression and the rebel counter-punch has now pushed the majority Muslim northern region of Rakhine state into a state of “open war.” He vowed “continued resistance” until Rohingya demands for the restoration of citizenship rights within Myanmar are met.

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WNU Editor: So much for Myanmar Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi defusing the situation .... Myanmar’s Suu Kyi uses Facebook to fuel hatred towards Rohingyas (The Australian). More here .... Aung Sang Suu Kyi's office accuses aid workers of helping 'terrorists' in Myanmar (The Guardian).

More News On Thousands Fleeing As Rohingya Militants And Myanmar Security Forces Battle In Rakhine State

Myanmar army conducts clearance operations; thousands flee clashes -- Reuters
Rohingya refugees storm Bangladeshi border as pushback fails -- Washington Post/AP
Myanmar Rakhine: Thousands flee to Bangladesh border -- BBC
Burma: Thousands flee Rakhine State amid worst violence in years -- Asia Correspondent
Rohingya group says thousands killed in Myanmar -- Anadolu Agency
Bangladesh offers Myanmar military aid against Rohingya rebels -- AFP
Birth of an ethnic insurgency in Myanmar -- Asia Times