The Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) carried out a
series of coordinated attacks against thirty border posts and police stations, as reported by Benar News on 25 August 2017. At least 71 people were killed and this has led to a crackdown on the Rohingya minority. On 5 September 2017, Reuters reported that more than 400 had been killed and
125,000 were fleeing to Bangladesh, putting an enormous strain on an already burdened neighbor. By 13 September 2017, Reuters reported that the number of refugees had risen to
400,000. Myanmar's national leader Aung San Suu Kyi has decided not to attend the UN General Assembly (scheduled for 12-25 September 2017) due to the severity of the crisis.
Thomas Muller, persecution analyst at World Watch Research, gives background information: "The original attacks in August, which were far worse than the first series taking place in October 2016, were carefully planned. They took place just one day after the international Annan Commission had published its findings on the plight of the Muslim Rohingya minority in Rakhine State. Muslim countries within the region (e.g. Indonesia and Malaysia) and beyond (e.g. Turkey) have put pressure on Myanmar to stop the army"s fierce reaction and instead send humanitarian aid. The situation of the Muslim Rohingya minority is dire and has the potential to serve as a rallying cry for radical Islamic militants across South East Asia. A mere military solution will not solve the problem, however, but rather increase it. In all this, it should not be forgotten that there is a tiny Christian convert community among the Rohingya, suffering from the overall situation as well as from family and community pressure. Additionally, the conflict has the potential of distracting any public attention concerning the continuing war against Christian minorities in the north, which are
cut off from national and international aid as reported by Radio Free Asia on 21 August 2017."
