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| Afghanistan/South Asia |
| Bangladeshi crackdown just a show |
| 2005-08-02 |
| Bangladeshi troops, during the ongoing Army-Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) joint 'anti-crime' campaign, which began on May 21, 2005, are reported to have neutralised several camps of Myanmarese rebel groups in a series of raids in the border district of Bandarban in July...It is easy to set a pattern to these ongoing activities and the 'results' that they produce in terms of the neutralisation of the terrorist and criminal elements in the country. In fact, Bangladesh is in a desperate search for a refurbished image amidst growing global concerns of the state's tolerance and promotion of Islamist fundamentalist and extremist values. The reality, unfortunately, is that these events are feeble attempts to please the Myanmarese military junta, whose goodwill is becoming an increasingly necessary commodity, as the Myanmar-Bangladesh-India gas pipeline negotiations hit roadblocks and both Myanmar and India start thinking in terms of circumventing Bangladesh altogether...Indeed, the recent arrests of Myanmar rebels are essentially aimed at diverting attention from more radical Rohingya outfits such as the RSO. Set up in the early 1980s when extremist elements among the Rohingyas broke away from the more moderate main grouping, the Rohingya Patriotic Front (RPF), the RSO has a history of association with jihadi elements in Bangladesh. In association with radical Islamist groups, the RSO is known to have set up several madrassas (seminaries), allegedly with foreign assistance, in the Bandarban area. Most of these 'centres of excellence' allegedly provide training to militants in the name of religious studies. By contrast, the military operations against Myanmarese fugitives have focused only on the weakest and least problematic of the rebel groups based in the country, while the most radical continue to be given a free run, along with their home-grown Islamist extremist associates. For instance, NUPA, a coalition of the Rakhaings or Buddhists formed in 1994 in the Arakan region consisting of several Arakanese rebel groups under the leadership of Bo Khaing Raza, has undergone at least four splits (in 1995, 1996, 2001 and most recently in May-June 2005), each time reducing the number of its cadres and also the number of guns and other arms in their possession. Similarly, ARNO, set up in 1999, describes itself as "an organisation advocating democracy, peace, justice, equality and human rights in Myanmar". A pale shadow of an outfit that once had 5,000 armed cadres brandishing AK-47 rifles, LMGs and rocket launchers, ARNO constitutes no significant threat, either to Bangladesh or to Myanmar. Both NUPA and ARNO have, however, been involved in the small arms trade and a nexus with bigger players in the game, but their potential is severely limited. Overt attempts at establishing active linkages with Islamist extremists do continue, but have had limited success. The southern districts of Chittagong, Bandarban and Cox's Bazaar, spread over 11,734 square kilometres, have, over the years, turned into meeting points for the Islamist jihadis in Bangladesh and the Rohingya groups from Myanmar. The willingness of the regime to tolerate such growth has not only led to the establishment of an effective and well-oiled machinery for producing jihadis within the constituency of the 100,000 Rohingyas living outside the UNHCR camps, as well as the larger native Bangladeshi population, but has provided a safe haven for jihadis seeking passage or temporary refuge from various theatres of conflict around the globe. Bangladesh's efforts at capping the growth of Islamist extremism have been, at best, nominal. Since February 24, 2005, when the Government announced a ban on two outfits, the Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh (JMJB) and Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), after years of denying their existence, a handful of their cadres and leaders were arrested. Most of them have since been released. The more extreme of the Rohingya groups are essentially part of this protected network, though elements within the marginal groups may be symbolically 'sacrificed'. Such symbolism underlies Bangladesh's ostensible 'return to sanity' on the Myanmarese rebels. Unfortunately, none of this contains within it the policies, the actions or the necessary transformations that could reverse the country's steady slide into disorder. |
| Posted by:Paul Moloney |
| #3 they were going to crush the Islamists the old fashioned way (read "crossfire") Except most of the radicals killed in 'crossfire' incidents are Maoists, against whom the Islamists and the Police are in an alliance to eradicate. Remember, Banlgadesh is governed by a coalition that includes rabid Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami, and they have been cracking down hard on Hindus, Ahmadis and anyone who claims the country is drifting towards extremism. |
| Posted by: Paul Moloney 2005-08-02 21:32 |
| #2 There are factions within the BD governmnet and security services that are rabid islamists. Any crackdown is to be taken with liberal amounts of salt. They have learned well from their Pak brethern. |
| Posted by: john 2005-08-02 14:18 |
| #1 I suspect that whoever wrote this has real sour grapes with the Bangladeshis. Long ago, I think the Bs decided that they were going to crush the Islamists the old fashioned way (read "crossfire"), and have been pretty effective, if rather discreet, in doing so. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2005-08-02 11:45 |