Rohingya insurgents strike in Myanmar, 89 killed

Suu Kyi confirms toll, highest since violence broke out

MAUNGDAW: At least 89 people, including a dozen security forces, were killed as R oh ing ya militants besieged border posts in northern Rakhine State, authorities said on Friday, triggering a fresh exodus of refugees to Bangladesh.

The office of de-facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi said 12 security officials had been killed alongside 77 militants—the highest declared single day toll since fighting broke out last year.

Friday’s fighting exploded around Rathedaung township which has seen a heavy build-up of troops in recent weeks, with reports filtering out of killings by shadowy groups, army-blockaded villages and abuses.

Some 20 police posts came under attack in the early hours of Friday by an estimated 150 insurgents, some carrying guns and using homemade explosives, Myanmar’s military said.

“The military and police members are fighting back together against extremist Bengali terrorists ,” commander-in-chief Min Aung Hlaing said, using the state’s description for Rohingya militants.

Footage obtained by AFP showed smoke rising from Zedipyin village in Rathedaung township where fighting was ongoing.

Despite years of persecution, the Rohingya largely eschewed violence. But a previously unknown militant group emerged as a force last October under the banner of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army , which claims to be leading an insurgency based in the remote May Yu mountain range.

A Twitter account (@ARSA_Official) which purports to represent the group con- firmed its fighters were engaging Myanmar’s military in the area and accused the soldiers of carrying out atrocities in recent weeks.

Suu Kyi’s office posted pictures of weapons that had been taken from militants, mainly home-made bomb sand rudimentary knives and clubs.

Friday’s violence pushed new waves of R oh ingy at of lee towards Bangladesh. But border guards there said they would not be allowed to cross.

The flare-up came just hours after former UN chief Kofi Ann an released a milestone report detailing conditions inside Rak hine and offering ways to heal the sectarian tensions.