T

his is in reference to The Nation’s editorial “New Rakhine panel another gimmick” that The Jakarta Post reproduced in a condensed form on Aug. 4. It implies a less-than objective and provocative view that the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) might have been created by Myanmar authorities to use as a pretext for the military to launch an offensive against the so-called Rohingyas.

I find it unfair and misleading as it deliberately ignores the truth that this terrorist group twice attacked a police station and local ethnic people. They killed 79 people on Sept. 10, 2016 and killed another 86 people on Aug. 25, 2017. The second attack was premeditated and more organized in that it was launched simultaneously on 30 police outposts and a base camp. The attack resulted in massive casualties among administrative officials, police and people of Myanmar ethnic groups like the Rakhine, Dinet, Bamar and Hindus. Amnesty International has also revealed the massive killings of over 90 Hindus.

As such, The Jakarta Post, as a responsible media outlet, should refrain from such irresponsible statements, particularly when Indonesia has taken a constructive approach to consolidate regional cooperation in countering terrorism.