Rohingya National Council
 | |
| Abbreviation | RNC |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1998 |
| Type | Political and military alliance |
| Purpose | To establish an independent Islamic state in northern Rakhine State (Arakan) |
| Headquarters | Buthidaung, Rakhine State |
| Location | |
Official language | Bengali |
The Rohingya National Council (Bengali: রোহিঙ্গা ন্যাশনাল কাউন্সিল; RNC) is a political 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 an armed wing, the Rohingya National Army (RNA), which was organised by ARNO.[1]
Ties with al-Qaeda
According to US Embassy Cables revealed by Wikileaks, the alleged meeting of ARNO members and al-Qaeda representatives in 2000 is reported as follows:[1]
| “ | 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 connection between Talibans and ARNO Rohingya militants:[1]
| “ | Arrival of Two Talibans 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 "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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