Taking provocations from Rakhine coast seriously

The tiny St. Martinn's Island of Bangladesh has again been in the news, but for the wrong reason. Since the first week of this month, plying of water transports between the mainland and the island has repeatedly come under fire from Myanmar's Rakhine coast, which is about eight kilometres away from the island. The residents and visitors to the island, who are totally dependent on the mainland for the supply of food and other necessities,were as a result in a state of great fear and uncertainties for more than a week. As the usual communication between Teknaf (an upazila of Cox's Bazar under which the island is a Union Parishad) and the St. Martin's via the Naf river became risky due to occasional gunfire from the Rakhine State of Myanmar, the government at a stage had to use the sea route from Cox's Bazar to reach food and other supplies to the island. It is unfortunate that the St. Martin's Island, an integral part of sovereign Bangladesh remained cut off from the mainland for so many days to the utter dismay and suffering of the islanders! Whoever might have been behind the firings, the Myanmar government forces or the members of Arakan Army (AA), the Rakhine State-based ethnic armed organization (EAO), an immediate response from the Bangladesh side was urgently expected to put a stop to such illegal activities within Bangladesh's territorial waters. Notably, since October last year, the fighting between the AA, two other EAOs and the forces of military junta in Naypyidaw erupted in the northern part of Myanmar. As the fighting had been taking place quite close to the Bangladesh border, the impact of the conflict occasionally spilled over into Bangladesh territory. Artillery shells falling on Bangladesh territory causing injuries and even death to villagers on this side of the border, instances of violation of Bangladesh's airspace by Myanmar junta's air force were frequent. Incidents of Myanmar's Border Guard Police (BGP) personnel, injured or otherwise, fleeing to Bangladesh for shelter have been taking place from time to time. The local authorities in Bangladesh have been generous enough to provide them shelter and arrange for treatment of the wounded followed by their subsequent repatriation home. Such acts of generosity and humanity were never reciprocated by the Myanmar side.
So, there is no scope of taking the recent firings from the other side of Bangladesh-Myanmar border that caused serious dislocation of ferry service between mainland and the St. Martin's Island lightly. The instances of gunfire do not appear to have been aimless since on June 5 the gunfire (from that Rakhine coast) that hit the water transport carrying Bangladesh's Election Commission officials and their equipment was to all intents and purposes deliberate. Later a vessel carrying supplies to the island from Teknaf was fired upon, forcing local authorities to suspend ferry service between Teknaf and the island via Naf River temporarily. Similar firings continued to target any vessel found crossing the waterway of Naf river including a speed boat on June 11.
The government's reaction to such acts of armed provocation from the Myanmar's side have so far been one of wait and see. It may be recalled at this point that the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Directorate in a press release on June 16, urged the public not to be misguided by any rumours in the social media about St. Martin's security. Of course, rumours can cause unnecessary panic in public mind and that is more so for the residents and visitors stranded on the St. Martin's Island. Evidently, ISPR has taken the right step to dispel such rumours. But at the same time, it is not hard to understand under what circumstances the rumour mill goes into overdrive. Prompt response to the provocations could avoid such an unwanted situation. Again, whoever has resorted to the firing of gunshots at Bangladesh-owned water transports in the Naf river or in the sea might have been emboldened by the silence from our side to continue with their military provocations.
The Myanmar government's outlook about the St. Martin's Island is important here. Earlier, the governments in Rangoon and later in Naypyidaw, laid claim to the St. Martin's Island through various means including showing it as lying within Myanmar's territorial waters in their country map. It happened even after the issue of maritime boundary between Bangladesh and Myanmar was settled through the verdict of the International Tribunal for the
Law of the Sea (ITLOS) in March 2012. Even during the incidents of firing on Bangladeshi waterway transports from the Rakhine coast, Myanmar's naval ships could be seen in the sea not far from the island. Even if it had no military significance, it does not also provide any reason to be complacent.
Meanwhile, the General Secretary of the ruling party and Road Transport and Bridges minister Obaidul Quader has assured the nation saying that efforts were underway to resolve the issue arising out of Myanmar's firing through discussions with that country. No doubt, diplomatic approach and dialogue are the best options for any conflict resolution. Now, say, the firing came from Myanmar's security men. In that case, given the history of diplomatic relations between us and Myanmar, especially over Rohingya issue, there is reason to be circumspect in any kind of dealings with Bangladesh's southeastern neighbour.
But, in case, it was the AA militants who opened the fires aiming Bangladeshi boats and ferries? Who would then Bangladesh authorities talk to? The government will be required to decide it and do it fast. That is more so because reports on the developments from across the border point to continued success of the AA guerrillas against Tatmadaw (Myanmar junta's army). So, a channel of communication with the AA should be opened without much delay. If AA is able to take full control of the Rakhine State that would be of help for the future repatriation of the Rohingya to the Rakhine state, their original homeland.
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