UCDP

General information

Part of Conflict: Myanmar (Burma): Arakan

Date of first stated goals of incompatibility: 1991-08-31
Comment on date of first stated goal of incompatibility: Spokespersons claim that the RSO formed a military wing called the Mujaheed Bahini as far back as in 1983.

In July 1991, the group had set up secret training camps in the jungles bordering Bangladesh. It was reported that the group wanted to restore the once-independent Muslim homeland of Arakan.

In August 1991, the leader of the Mujaheed Bahini, claimed that the organisation was ready to start fighting the Myanmarese government but that they needed international support of arms and funds.

Date of first use of armed force: 1991-06-01
Comment on date of first use of armed force: Even though the RSO claimed that they had set up training camps as early as 1983, but it was reported that in June that the group was forming "Mujahideen forces."
First Battle Related Death: 1991-12-26
Comment on First Battle Related Death: According to Intelligence sources in Chittagong said RSO guerrillas had killed 15 Burmese soldiers and wounded 10 in a surprise attack near Maungdow town in Arakan

Date when dyad reached 25 battle releated deaths: 1991-12-29
Comment on date when dyad reached 25 battle related deaths: In December, the organisation was involved in several clashes with government forces recording more than 25 battle-related deaths.

Conflict issues

Conflict Goal Issues: [RSO] (/#/actor/187) (Rohingya Solidarity Organization) was a rebel group formed in 1982 fighting against the government of Myanmar (Burma) (/#/conflict/223) in Arakan (Rakhine) state (/#/country/775). The rebel group had its roots in the pan-Islamist movement, thus developing as a more radical and strictly religious faction of the Rohingya Patriotic Front (RPF) established in 1974, who claimed to fight in representation of the Rohingya ethnic minority group. Its first conflict goal issue was stated in 1991 and was a demand for independence with this statement: "The Burmans are to blame for our secessionist campaign. Being Buddhist, they refuse to tolerate Moslems in their neighborhood". The conflict goal issues demanded by [RSO] (/#/actor/187) remained generally the same over the years, centered around the goals of autonomy and citizenship reforms. Indeed, the group wanted to achieve self-determination for the people of Arakan, while at the same time condemning its citizenship law that made the Rohingya people alien in Myanmar (Burma) (/#/country/775). Additionally, it asked for an equal treatment of Rohingya to other ethnicities as well as more tolerance for Muslims from the government of Myanmar (Burma) (/#/actor/144), and more respect for their religious heritage. [RSO] (/#/actor/187) main conflict goals issues were autonomy and citizenship reforms. These issues were coded in several years and were particularly emphasized by the group. Indeed, they first stated in 1991 that "The citizenship law made us aliens in Burma and sought to drive us away from home" Mia told Reuters that "This has left us with no choice but to seek a military option and wage a jihad (holy war) against the tyrants", and later in 1992 they stated: "Our objective is to achieve self-determination for the people of Arakan”.

Conflict Dynamics Issues: The first conflict dynamics issue raised by [RSO] (/#/actor/187) was raised in 1991 and was a call to identify a form of ethnic collective targeting caused by the government of Myanmar (Burma) (/#/actor/144). "Rebels waging a guerrilla campaign against the Rangoon government say religious discrimination, repression and denial of fundamental rights have spurred their fight for political independence in Arakan, Burma's only Moslem majority province". Similar to RSO’s call for autonomy the group’s conflict dynamics issues remained largely the same over time. In general, the group denounced the government’s violent actions, persecution and violation of human rights targeting Rohingya because of their religion and ethnicity as well as their political support to Suu Kyi’s party in 1990 elections. Additionally, the rebel group appealed to the government of Bangladesh not to repatriate Rohingya migrants until peace and security was achieved in Arakan state (/#/country/775). The rebel group contested also the methods use by the Burmese troops who forced Rohingya’s to work as army porters and human shields and had driven thousands of Moslem families from their homes and built barracks on Rohingya lands. The main conflict dynamics issues raised by [RSO] (/#/actor/187) were Collective targeting: ethnic and Military conduct.

Conflict Resolution Issues: The project was not able to find any conflict resolution issues in the years from 1991 to 1994.
Type of conflict issues: Conflict Goal Issues: Autonomy, Basic needs, Citizenship reforms, Civil rights, Freedom of movement, Independence, Labor rights, Protection of cultural heritage, Religious rights

Conflict Dynamics Issues: Atrocities and abuses, Collective targeting: ethnic, Collective targeting: other group, Collective targeting: religious, IFI: International monitoring, IFI: Use of foreign influence, Military conduct, Non-refoulement of refugees/IDPs, Release of prisoners

Conflict Resolution Issues: No issues identified.

Annual information

This section contains annual information systematically collected by the UCDP.