Myanmar Junta Rejects Rohingya State Proposal, Alleges China Links
Myanmar’s military government has dismissed a proposal by Bangladesh’s Jamaat-e-Islami to create a separate Rohingya state in Rakhine, calling it a threat to sovereignty, BD News 24 reported. The junta accused Jamaat of seeking political leverage through ties with China’s Communist Party (CPC), referencing a meeting between the two parties in Dhaka on April 27.
Jamaat later clarified it advocated for “dignified repatriation” and a “secure zone” in Rakhine for Rohingya refugees, not full independence. Deputy chief Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher emphasized China’s potential mediation role due to its Myanmar ties.
The junta reiterated its stance on repatriating “Bengali” refugees—a term denying Rohingya ethnicity—and cited ongoing talks with Bangladesh in Kunming. Over 750,000 Rohingya fled to Bangladesh after Myanmar’s 2017 crackdown, with recent clashes displacing 80,000 more.
Repatriation efforts collapsed post-2021 coup, and China-mediated talks failed. With Rakhine now largely controlled by the Arakan Army rebel group, Bangladesh-Myanmar communication has dwindled, deepening the crisis.
