By Camp Correspondent
March 5, 2025 – Maungdaw, Arakan
The Arakan Army (AA) has begun issuing new family registration documents to Rohingya communities in Maungdaw Township, following a population verification process that closely resembles past procedures enforced by the Myanmar military.
The verification, which started on January 13, 2025, includes photographing residents and recording family details.
Initially, the AA provided these documents free of charge. Still, reports from Mingalar Gyi village indicate that local authorities now demand 5,000 Kyats per document as a “meal fee” for AA personnel.
According to sources, over 600 families in the village are still waiting for their documents.
Population Verification and Registration Process
The same verification procedure is taking place in Hla Phoe Khaung camp and other areas where Rohingya families, including internally displaced persons (IDPs), reside.
The AA/United League of Arakan (ULA) is conducting these checks based on existing Myanmar military records, capturing new photographs, and issuing AA/ULA-stamped family registration documents.
A Rohingya resident who participated in the process described the experience:
“During the checks, families must stand in line, and each person is photographed. It’s exactly like the Myanmar military’s verification process. Women were even barred from wearing burqas for the photos. Once the process is complete, AA issues new family registration documents with their official seal.”
Ethnic Identity Controversy
One of the major concerns regarding these new documents is the ethnic identity classification. Instead of identifying residents as “Rohingya” or “Bengali,” the AA has opted to list them simply as “Muslim.”
A local AA official justified this decision, stating:
“If we write ‘Rohingya,’ the Rakhine community will not accept it. If we write ‘Bengali,’ the Rohingya community will not accept it either. Since this is a historical issue, we chose to write ‘Muslim’ as a compromise.”
However, Rohingya activists and community members fear that this move is yet another attempt to erase their identity and deny them legal recognition.
Fears Over AA’s Motives
The AA’s population verification has raised concerns about its true intentions, with many Rohingya suspecting that the process is meant to serve as a tool for surveillance, restriction, and control rather than protection.
A Rohingya activist warned:
“This verification process is a long-standing method of control that has been used against the Rohingya since 1992. It allows authorities to monitor and restrict our community under the guise of population management.”
As tensions grow, many Rohingya in Maungdaw remain skeptical of AA’s long-term plans, fearing that the new registration system could eventually be used to limit their rights and freedoms rather than secure their place in Arakan.
