By: Camp Correspondent
April 7, 2025
In yet another act of aggression against the Rohingya community, four civilians were arbitrarily detained by the Arakan Army (AA) in Kyar Gaung Taung village of northern Maungdaw on the afternoon of April 6. According to eyewitnesses, the operation occurred around 4:00 PM, when heavily armed AA troops stormed the village without prior warning.
Residents said the soldiers forcefully entered homes, physically assaulted the men, and dragged them out in front of their terrified families. “They didn’t say anything—just came in, beat the men, and took them away,” one villager told Rohingya Khobor, requesting anonymity due to safety concerns.
The detainees were reportedly taken towards Nant Chaung, a village where the AA has been accused of holding previous captives. Family members say no explanation has been given for the arrests, and the whereabouts of their loved ones remain unknown. “They are innocent. We don’t know what crime they committed, if any. We are deeply worried,” said a relative of one of the detainees.
This incident follows a series of oppressive measures targeting the Rohingya population across northern Maungdaw. Since late March, AA forces—often aided by local Rakhine residents—have allegedly surrounded Rohingya villages, subjected civilians to beatings, looted homes, and carried out arrests based on unverified accusations.
Local observers and human rights defenders warn that such operations are part of a broader campaign of intimidation and forced displacement. Several organizations have called on international bodies, including the United Nations and ASEAN, to urgently intervene and ensure the protection of civilians in conflict-affected zones.
The families of those detained are pleading for their immediate and unconditional release, fearing that the detainees may face torture or worse. Their appeals add to the growing outcry over the deteriorating human rights situation in Rakhine State.
