At first glance, his statement might appear reasonable. After all, calling someone by their ethnic identity isn't inherently problematic. However, in the highly politicized context of Myanmar's ethnic conflicts and citizenship debates, the issue is not about the use of the term ‘Bengal’ in isolation, but rather its deliberate use as a tool of erasure. By insisting that Rohingyas are ‘Bengalis’, the General is reinforcing a state narrative that denies the community’s historical, cultural, and political roots in Rakhine State. This form of rhetorical manipulation is central to Myanmar’s longstanding project of denying the Rohingyas their identity, rendering them stateless and framing them as outsiders or illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. The General’s tweet functions within this ideological framework, it may sound benign, even factual, but it weaponizes terminology to strip the Rohingyas of their collective memory, belonging, and rights. In essence, his message promotes a false choice: accept an imposed identity or face continued denial and exclusion. What appears to be a simple linguistic claim is, in fact, a political strategy of delegitimization, one that seeks to normalize the erasure of the Rohingya identity under the guise of ethnic labeling. On one occasion in his social media discourse, General reluctantly, against his will to write the full spelling of the Rohingya, refers to the community as ‘R. Bengalis’, a deliberate misnomer designed to deny their Rohingya identity and legitimacy. More troubling, however, is his recurring accusation that the community and its diaspora is engaged in a covert effort to establish a ‘separate Islamic zone’ in Rakhine State. This narrative is a clear instance of slander and misinformation, strategically crafted to associate the Rohingya with extremist ideologies and militant ambitions. 87