by Hafizur Rahman
Arakan State, November 1, 2025 — The Arakan Army (AA) has tightened its grip over Rohingya-populated regions in northern Arakan State, carrying out a series of human rights abuses that include forced labor, arbitrary arrests, religious persecution, and severe movement restrictions. Recent testimonies from affected residents and reports from human rights organizations reveal a disturbing escalation of violence reminiscent of past atrocities committed by the Myanmar military.
Since October 24, the AA has been forcing Rohingya families in Maungdaw town to perform night guard duty three times per month. Residents are required to patrol from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., and those unable to participate must pay 20,000 kyats per night—about 60,000 kyats monthly. The order has placed an unbearable burden on already impoverished families.
Locals said anyone refusing to comply faces threats of arrest or punishment, and even the elderly and sick are not exempt. “We are already struggling to feed our families,” said one resident. “Now AA is forcing us to guard at night and pay money. This makes our life even harder.”
On October 28, two Rohingya youths — 30-year-old Mohammed Roshid and 22-year-old Hala Futu — were unlawfully arrested in Tharay Oak village, northern Maungdaw. One of them reportedly suffers from a mental illness. Witnesses said the men were detained on their way to work without explanation.
“These actions spread fear across our community,” a villager told Rohingya Khobor. “Even a person with mental illness was arrested. It’s a serious human rights violation.”
In another instance of abuse, more than 175 Rohingya villagers from five northern Maungdaw villages were reportedly forced to clear forests for AA military operations. Locals said they were made to work long hours under extreme conditions, without food, water, or rest. “They use us like slaves,” one villager said. “If we refuse, our families will be in danger.”
Human rights organizations have described these acts as violations of international humanitarian law. A recent Fortify Rights report confirmed that the AA has been exploiting minority groups for military construction and logistics — conduct that could amount to war crimes.
The AA has also been accused of demolishing two centuries-old mosques in Ywet Nyo Taung and Kwan Dine villages of Buthidaung Township. Residents said these mosques, which had survived earlier military attacks, were later destroyed by AA fighters. “These mosques were our history,” a villager said. “Destroying them means they want to erase every sign that Rohingya people ever lived here.”
Although the AA has not released any statement on the destruction, observers believe it is part of a broader campaign to erase Rohingya cultural and religious identity.
A United Nations report published on October 20, 2025, by UN Special Rapporteur Thomas Andrews accused both the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army of committing crimes against humanity in Rakhine State. The report detailed mass killings, arson, gang rapes, and the forced displacement of more than 150,000 Rohingya refugees between 2024 and 2025. While the junta was held responsible for large-scale massacres, the AA was cited for forced recruitment, extortion, and the burning of Rohingya villages.
Satellite imagery confirmed destruction in several Rohingya areas, including Than Htaung Khan village, where AA fighters allegedly executed civilians. Despite denying the accusations, AA Commander Tun Myat Naing invited the UN to investigate — though no inquiry has yet taken place.
Human rights advocates are now calling for urgent international action to hold perpetrators accountable. “The Rohingya are trapped between two forces — one in uniform and one in rebel attire,” said a rights observer. “Both claim to fight for justice, yet both destroy the lives of innocent civilians.”
The growing evidence from Maungdaw and Buthidaung paints a grim picture of escalating violence under AA control. As Rohingya civilians endure forced labor, arbitrary arrests, and religious persecution, rights defenders warn that only strong international pressure and accountability can halt the deepening crisis in Arakan State.
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