BANGLADESH: Burmese guerrillas fighting for independence say they need international arms and financial help

Record ID: 226863

  • Title: BANGLADESH: Burmese guerrillas fighting for independence say they need international arms and financial help
  • Date: 27th August 1991
  • Summary: UNDISCLOSED LOCATION NEAR BURMESE-BANGLADESHI FRONTIER (AUGUST 27, 1991) (REUTERS) SIGN ON WALL OF BASE CAMP BUILDING, REBELS NEARBY REBELS GUARDING BUILDING ENTRANCE INTERIOR, REBEL OFFICIAL EZHAR MIA DISPLAYING MAPS AND DESCRIBING CAMPAIGN (ENGLISH) REBEL LEADERS WATCHING MARTIAL ARTS DISPLAY BY TRAINEES YOUNG BOY DRILLING WITH TROOPS AND SOLDIER WHO DROPS RIFLE BEING DISCIPLINED, RUNNING AROUND FIELD WITH WEAPON HELD OVERHEAD TRAINEES UNDERGOING MILITARY EXERCISES REBEL OFFICERS SEATED EZHAR MIA DESCRIBING FUTURE PLANS (ENGLISH) REBEL TROOPS CHEERING
  • Embargoed: 11th September 1991 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: UNDISCLOSED LOCATION NEAR BURMESE-BANGLADESH FRONTIER.
  • Country: Bangladesh
  • Topics: War / Fighting,Defence / Military
  • Reuters ID: LVA4MZH5SYXN7GBIZC2A69Y243M2
  • Story Text: Burmese guerrillas fighting for independence in the mainly Moslem Arakan province reported on Monday (August 26) that they were prepared to fight Burmese government troops but needed international arms and financial help.
    Ezhar Mia, leader of the rebel Mujaheed Bahini faction, told correspondents who gathered on the Bangladeshi side of the Burmese border on Tuesday (August 27) that "we are ready to take on the enemies". He added, that the group needs "a steady supply line to keep the fight going". He confirmed that the Mujaheed had contacted South American weapons dealers after receiving information that "sources in Moslem countries" would assist the movement.
    The Mujaheed Bahini, the military wing of the Rohingya Solidarity Organisation (RSO) representing Burmese Moslems, was formed in 1983, and has trained an estimated 5,000 militants in combat and sabotage operations. At least 3 million people of Arakan province's 4.2 million population are Moslem. They have allegedly been deprived of their political rights by Burma's Buddhist-led governments since Britain granted the country full independence in 1948.
    RSO officials have accused the Burmese military regime of forcibly evicting Moslems from their home areas, replacing mosques with pagodas and establishing non-Moslem settlements.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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