Singapore has detained several Myanmar nationals accused of organizing support for a rebel group locked in fierce fighting with the military in Myanmar’s troubled Rakhine state.
Singapore’s Interior Ministry said in a statement yesterday that the government is taking action against several Myanmar nationals for using Singapore as a platform to organize and garner support for armed violence against the Myanmar Government.
The statement said these people raised funds and organized support for the Arakan Army insurgents and this is inimical to Singapore’s security. It added that those found to be involved in activities of security concern would be deported.
Myanmar’s army has deployed thousands of troops to Rakhine in recent months to try to crush Arakan Army (AA) insurgents, who say they are fighting for more autonomy for ethnic Rakhine Buddhists.
Country’s western state was the scene of a 2017 military crackdown against its Rohingya Muslims, when hundreds of thousands were forced to flee to Bangladesh.