Myanmar Junta Rejects Jamaat-e-Islami’s Call for Independent Rohingya State

Staff Correspondent

Myanmar’s military regime has strongly rejected a proposal by Bangladesh’s largest Islamist political party, Jamaat-e-Islami, to establish an independent Rohingya state in Rakhine State, denouncing it as an assault on the country’s sovereignty.

The proposal was made on Sunday during a meeting between a Jamaat delegation and representatives from the Communist Party of China (CPC) in Dhaka. Jamaat’s Nayeb-e-Ameer, Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher, told reporters that the party called for an “independent Arakan State” in Rohingya-majority areas to ensure the safe repatriation and rehabilitation of the more than 1.2 million Rohingya refugees currently living in “inhumane conditions” in Bangladesh. Taher also stated that humanitarian aid alone was insufficient and sought China’s support due to its close relationship with Myanmar’s junta.

There has been no public response from China regarding the proposal.

In a statement issued Tuesday, Myanmar’s junta condemned the proposal as a violation of national sovereignty and accused Jamaat of attempting to politicize the Rohingya crisis. The regime reiterated its position that the refugees are “Bengalis” from Bangladesh and maintained that the only path forward was their verified repatriation through bilateral mechanisms already in place with Dhaka.

“The regime has repeatedly affirmed its commitment to repatriation under proper verification and registration processes, and has prepared sufficient infrastructure to accommodate returnees,” the statement read. “Jamaat’s attempt to lobby China for political gain is irresponsible and undermines ongoing diplomatic efforts.”

Jamaat’s engagement with the CPC has drawn attention at a time when China has increased its involvement in regional conflict mediation. However, the regime emphasized that its deputy foreign minister has maintained regular repatriation discussions with his Bangladeshi counterpart in Kunming.

The proposal comes amid broader international pressure on Myanmar’s junta. Earlier this year, an Argentine court issued arrest warrants for junta chief Min Aung Hlaing and 23 senior officers over alleged genocide against the Rohingya in 2017. Additionally, the International Criminal Court’s prosecutor has filed a request for an arrest warrant for the junta leader.

Meanwhile, tensions along Myanmar’s borders continue to escalate. In India, politicians from Mizoram and Manipur have called for the annexation or compensation for Myanmar’s Kabaw Valley and for ethnic border regions like Chin State to join India. Junta spokesman Major General Zaw Min Tun responded by warning foreign politicians to avoid actions that could harm bilateral relations, stressing the need to respect Myanmar’s territorial integrity.

Since the 2021 coup, the junta has lost significant control of its borderlands. The Arakan Army dominates parts of Rakhine State bordering Bangladesh, while Chin State and the Kabaw Valley are under anti-regime groups. Other rebel forces, including the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army and the Karen National Union, control key stretches along the Chinese and Thai frontiers, respectively.

As international and domestic pressures mount, the regime remains firm in its rejection of any proposal that questions the unity of the state or supports external involvement in internal ethnic issues.

Source: The Irrawaddi