The  United League of Arakan/Arakan Army (ULA/AA) asserts that its members always monitor various actionsby the military council while using the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA)terror group in Buthidaung and Maungdaw areas of Rakhine State.

"As far as we are concerned, I would like toinform that we always keep a watchful eye on the situation of Buthidaung andMaungdaw areas and all kinds of activities by the junta forces and ARSArebels," said U Khaing Thukha, the spokesman of ULA/AA.

The ARSA rebels used to infiltrate different refugeecamps in Bangladesh, but the government in Dhaka has started arrestingthem. Finding difficulties to stay inside Bangladesh, many ARSA rebels havelately infiltrated into Buthidaung and Maungdaw areas, revealed by politicalobservers and local residents.

More interestingly, ARSA rebels also lived in absentjunta camps after being occupied by the AA members during the resurgentbattles. The ARSA is extorting money from local Muslims after threatening and even abducting Muslim businessmen. On someoccasions they have even challenged AA members.

Various political analysts argue that the juntaauthorities are using the ARSA rebels for political gains.

A Maungdaw resident, whois close to the military personnel, alleged that the junta helped the ARSA withweapons and even allowed them to travel in Buthidaung and Maungdaw Townships.

"We could see a number of strangers in both thelocalities. They give money to the soldiers at the Kyin Chaung villagecheckpoint. We have seen that the Burma army personnel are using those Muslimsfor the political mileage of the junta,” he added.

The military council is able to use the ARSA to create communal conflictunder its ‘divide and rule’ policy. The locals are afraid of erupting conflicts between Rakhine and Muslimcommunities living in the region with the religious polarization.

Veteran Arakanese politician U Pe Than stated that both Rakhine andMuslim communities should be careful so that they are not being exploited bythe military council.

"We the Rakhine and Muslim people must be careful. As Muslims, weshould live in the spirit of being together in our Arakan land with equalrights. Muslims should avoid participating in the activities of ARSA. Muslimsand Rakhine people should live with the spirit of patriotism and love for eachother. Let's not being used by the military council. We need to bewatchful," he added.

Narinjara News contacted the Rakhine State security and border affairsminister colonel Kyaw Thura, but he did not respond.

In 2016 and 2017,the ARSA rebels attacked many border police stations and military bases in Maungdaw township that caused heavy casualties to theBurmese forces. Soon the army launched a massive clearance operation on the terrorists in the affected areas. Over 700,000 Muslims fromMaungdaw and Buthidaung localities had to flee to Bangladesh.

As the military council fails to fight against AA inRakhine battlefields and it seemingly tries to nurture a friendship with theARSA terrorists. These rebels do not enjoy comfortable relationship with the AAand hence the military authorities want to exploit the situation in theirfavour.