Rohingya National Army
| Rohingya National Army রোহিঙ্গা ন্যাশনাল আর্মি | |
|---|---|
| Participant in the Rohingya insurgency in Western Myanmar | |
|
Flag used by Rohingya Islamists | |
| Active | 1998–present |
| Ideology |
Rohingya nationalism Islamism |
| Groups | |
| Headquarters | Buthidaung, Rakhine State |
| Area of operations | Rakhine State, Myanmar |
| Strength | 200–400[1] |
| Allies |
 Government of Bangladesh (alleged)[1] |
| Opponents |
.svg.png){kind=small} Union of Myanmar (until 2011) |
| Battles and wars | |
The Rohingya National Army (Bengali: রোহিঙ্গা ন্যাশনাল আর্মি; RNA) is the armed wing of the Rohingya National Council (RNC), and is a military alliance of Rohingya Islamist insurgent groups in Rakhine State (Arakan), Myanmar (Burma). In 1998, the Rohingya Solidarity Organization (RSO), the Arakan Rohingya National Organization (ARNO), and the Arakan Rohingya Islamic Front (ARIF) formed a mutual alliance, and established the RNA, whose affairs and establishments were managed by ARNO.[2]
In June 2015, three Burmese engineers were kidnapped and beheaded by insurgents belonging to the RSO faction of the RNA, leading some to label them as a terrorist organisation.[1]
History
On 28 October 1998, the Rohingya Solidarity Organization (RSO) and the Arakan Rohingya Islamic Front (ARIF), led by Nurul Islam, merged and founded the Rohingya National Council (RNC). The Rohingya National Army (RNA) was also established as its armed wing, with the Arakan Rohingya National Organization (ARNO) organising Rohingya insurgents of different factions into a single army.[3]
According to US Embassy Cables revealed by Wikileaks, the alleged meeting of ARNO members and Al-Qaeda representatives was reported. The cable also commented that the Tatmadaw allegedly provided the report with the "hope of bolstering relations with the United States, by getting credit for cooperation on the CT front in the War on Terror."[3]
| “ | Five members (names still under inquiry by the GOB) of ARNO attended a high-ranking officers' course with Al Qaeda representatives on 15 May 2000 and arrived back in Bangladesh on 22 June. During the course, they discussed matters relating to political and military affairs, arms and ammunition, and financing with Osama Bin Laden. Mohamed Arju Taida and Mohamed Rau-Sheik Ar-Mar Darsi from the Taliban were present with them at the meeting. Ninety members of ARNO were selected to attend a guerrilla warfare course, a variety of explosives courses and heavy-weapons courses held in Libya and Afghanistan in August, 2001. Thirteen out of these selected members participated in the explosives and heavy-weapons training. | ” |
As Wikileaks noted, there was also a connection between= Taliban factions and ARNO insurgents:[2]
| “ | Arrival of Two Taliban insurgents at ARNO Headquarters:
Al Ha-Saud and Al Ja-hid, two members of Taliban group, arrived at ARNO's headquarters in Zai-La-Saw-Ri Camp on 2 November 2001 from the Rohingya Solidarity Organization's (RSO) Kann-Grat-Chaung camp. They met with Nur Islam (Chairman), ZaFaur-Ahmed (Secretary) and Fayos Ahmed (acting Chief-of-Staff Army), ARNO, and discussed the reorganization of RSO and ARNO. It was learned that ARNO/RSO and Taliban groups planned to hold a meeting on 15 November 2001. Nurul Islam, Chairman of ARNO, also declared that the Arakan Rohingya Islamic Front (ARIF) and the Rohingya Solidarity Organization (RSO) had agreed to reorganize as integrated members of ARNO. However, Mullah Dil-Mar from RSO did not agree with this re-organization and resigned with his entourage of insurgents. |
” |
See also
References
- 1 2 3 Oo, Hla. "Bangladeshi Army Training Rohingya Terrorists on Border". Retrieved 14 January 2016.
- 1 2 "Wikileaks Cables: ARAKAN ROHINGYA NATIONAL ORGANIZATION CONTACTS WITH AL QAEDA AND WITH BURMESE INSURGENT GROUPS ON THE THAI BORDER". Revealed by Wikileaks. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
- 1 2 "Wikileaks Cables: ARAKAN ROHINGYA NATIONAL ORGANIZATION CONTACTS WITH AL QAEDA AND WITH BURMESE INSURGENT GROUPS ON THE THAI BORDER". Revealed by Wikileaks. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
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