This is neither a humanitarian gesture nor merely a public relations manoeuvre by the Saudis. They are positioning themselves to not only arm and finance ARSA, but to direct the insurgency. Power often gives to those whom they want to control; using what has been given as leverage because the recipient knows that it can be taken away. If you want to control someone, become their benefactor; that is a very Arab tactic.
Funding for ARSA, and its various propagandists,comes largely from Saudi Arabia; either from private Rohingya business people, or wealthy Saudis. It is also likely that ARSA’s brain trust (for lack of a better term) is based in the kingdom. The quote : “…the Rohingya community in Saudi Arabia are very fortunate..” is informative. That is the code benefactors use to issue threats. Gratitude in all its various manifestations, is the only protection against insecurity.
Furthermore, Saudi Arabia is building its credibility with the Rohingya through this measure; presenting themselves as friends of “the world’s most persecuted minority”; their intentions, therefore, will be beyond scrutiny. Their material interests n Arakan, their desire to pump oil through Arakan, their keenness to utilise Arakan’s arable land for their own food security…and, of course, their traditional role as an instrument of American foreign policy goals; must all be overlooked.
I am happy for the Rohingya in the kingdom whose lives will be made easier because of these certificates (though it would be interesting to know which families were prioritised by the government to receive them first); but there is no doubt that this move is part of a larger gambit the objective of which is to serve Saudi interests, not the salvation of the Rohingya.
And Allah Knows Best