Cropped screenshot of the statement from the Arakan Army, with their creepy logo. MYANMAR PEACE MONITOR
When the Arakan Army began clashing with government soldiers in the western state of Rakhine earlier this month, many reacted by thinking: what the hell is the Arakan Army?
A Reuters article described the group as “obscure” and included quotes from a local government official who dismissed the Arakan Army as a weak force despite the fact that their fighters have killed two soldiers and teamed up with Kokang rebels waging a bloody battle against the military in Shan State.
Whether they are strong or not doesn’t answer the question of why they are using a Nazi-era symbol as their main logo, the stamp of which appeared on an April 25 statement posted online by the Myanmar Peace Monitor.
The image is of an Eagle with spread wings looking over one shoulder, virtually identical to the one used by Nazis and, in a time long ago, the Roman Army (Hitler was obsessed with Roman military valor and conquest, go figure).
Instead of holding a swastika in its talons, the Arakan bird is holding the flag of the army.
Reuters correspondent Jared Ferrie first noticed the similarities.
The army is apparently pissed off that they aren’t involved in ceasefire negotiations with the government, and has promised to be “more active” in the future.
A request for comment from the Arakan Army was not immediately returned.
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