The Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) has rejected recent calls by Fortify Rights for an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against its Commander-in-Chief Ata Ullah (Abu Ammar Jununi), calling the allegations “false” and “politically motivated.”
In a statement issued on May 23, ARSA accused Fortify Rights of attempting to divert attention from a recent Human Rights Watch report that documented alleged massacres of Rohingya civilians by the Arakan Army in Buthidaung Township.
ARSA says the timing of Fortify Rights’ statement was intentional, saying it came shortly after the HRW report exposing what ARSA described as “one of the worst massacres on Rohingya civilians.”
The group also criticized Fortify Rights for citing support from seven unnamed Rohingya organizations without revealing their identities.
ARSA further accused Fortify Rights of applying “double standards” by referring to the Arakan Army as a legitimate force despite allegations of abuses against Rohingya civilians, while continuing to label ARSA a terrorist organization.
The group denied involvement in terrorism or attacks against civilians, saying its activities are aimed at defending Rohingya rights and resisting the Myanmar junta.
ARSA described all accusations against it as “false, politically motivated, and intended to defame our movement.”
