The Arakan Army Seeks International Recognition While Denying Recognition to the Rohingya
- 9 hours ago
- 1 min read
Misbah Mushorof
On 26 March 2024, Arakan Army Commander-in-Chief Twan Mrat Naing wrote on X:
“Nothing is wrong with calling Bengalis ‘Bengalis.’ They have been our neighbours, our friends and fellow citizens for centuries. Let’s be honest and embrace this reality to build a better future.”
This post was not a small language issue. It was a political message. It told the Rohingya that the Arakan Army and its political wing, the United League of Arakan, do not recognise us by the name we use for ourselves.
The word “Bengali” has a dangerous political meaning in Myanmar. For decades, the Myanmar military and anti-Rohingya nationalists used it to describe the Rohingya as foreigners from Bangladesh. This label helped them deny our citizenship, history and belonging in Arakan.