In early January 2024, Mohammad Ayas, a 25-year-old Rohingya refugee, ventured deep into the forests near Myanmar, retracing his steps from 2017 when he had fled the violence that claimed his father's life. This time, Ayas wasn't escaping—he was preparing for battle. He, along with thousands of fellow refugees, is now joining armed groups to fight back against the Myanmar military and those who contributed to their displacement.
Ayas, who teaches Burmese to children in the refugee camps of Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, says he is ready to die for his people in their fight to reclaim their homeland. His determination reflects a growing movement among the more than a million Rohingya refugees living in Bangladesh. Many of them, having endured years of violence, poverty, and hopelessness, are now training for combat to defend their rights and seek justice for the atrocities they faced in Myanmar.
While Ayas trained in the jungles of Myanmar, others like Abu Niyamat Ulla, a 42-year-old religious teacher, have joined insurgent groups such as the Islamic Mahaz, which is affiliated with the larger Rohingya Solidarity Organisation (RSO). Ulla and many like him have been seeking not just survival but retribution against the Myanmar military, which they accuse of committing genocide against their people.
Life in the refugee camps has been harsh. With little access to education, healthcare, or opportunities, the conditions are ripe for recruitment into armed militias. While groups such as the Rohingya Solidarity Organisation (RSO) claim they are fighting for the Rohingya's liberation, aid agencies have raised concerns over forced recruitment, violence, and the growing influence of armed factions within the camps.
The Rohingya are caught in a complex web of violence, with not only the Myanmar military but also the Arakan Army (AA), a Buddhist militia group, opposing them. These groups have clashed repeatedly, and the Rohingya are determined to fight for their land, their dignity, and their freedom.
One commander, operating within the camps, spoke anonymously about the desire to unite the Rohingya and resist both the military and the Arakan Army. While they initially sought peaceful reconciliation, he says that the constant deaths of their people have left them with no choice but to fight.
As the Rohingya increasingly take up arms, humanitarian organizations warn of rising instability in the camps. There is growing frustration and hopelessness, as refugees face severe restrictions on movement, limited access to basic services, and a lack of meaningful prospects. Many see armed resistance as the only way to reclaim their future.
The situation is compounded by political developments in the U.S. that could lead to reduced humanitarian aid. With the potential loss of vital support, experts fear that more Rohingya refugees may be pushed into militant groups, either by choice or out of desperation.
The international community's failure to act on the Rohingya crisis leaves many feeling abandoned and resolved to take matters into their own hands, fighting to secure a better future for their people.
Source: The Independent UK
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