by Hafizur Rahman
Pauktaw Township, Arakan State | December 24, 2025
Twenty eight Rohingya fishermen were arrested by the Myanmar Navy on December 22 while fishing in waters near Pannansar Island in Pauktaw Township, according to local sources.
The arrests took place around 2:30 pm. The fishermen were from a Rohingya displacement camp in Sintet Maw village and were using three small fishing boats at the time of the incident.
Witnesses said two naval vessels patrolling near the Sittwe sea area approached the fishermen. Naval personnel then arrived in speedboats and detained all 28 men without providing any explanation. The three fishing boats were also seized.
A Rohingya fisherman who witnessed the incident said the arrests happened suddenly while the men were working at sea. He said no reason was given for taking them into custody.
After the arrests, the Myanmar Navy transported the fishermen and their boats to Kyaukphyu town. Local residents said the current condition of the detained men and their legal status remain unknown.
Rohingya residents in the area said fishing is the primary means of survival for many families, and repeated arrests have created fear among fishermen. Many families depend entirely on daily fishing for food and income.
A similar incident was reported on November 11, when five Rohingya fishermen from Fadu Che village in Pauktaw Township were arrested by a Myanmar Navy vessel while traveling to fish west of Pannansar Island. Those fishermen were also taken to Kyaukphyu.
Local communities said the repeated detention of Rohingya fishermen is worsening an already fragile situation, leaving families without income and deepening insecurity among coastal Rohingya communities in Pauktaw Township.
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