By: Camp Correspondent
May 1, 2025
The Arakan Army (AA) has once again come under fire for its brutal treatment of Rohingya civilians in northern Maungdaw. On Thursday afternoon, two Rohingya homes were set ablaze, and several villagers—including children and the elderly, were reportedly beaten and tortured during a raid on U Shey Kya village.
According to residents, AA troops entered the village around 2 PM, accusing locals of harboring members of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA). After an extensive search, no evidence was found. However, the soldiers proceeded to burn the homes of U Nurul Amin (45) and Hafiz U Shamsul Amat (50) to the ground.
“They said ARSA was hiding in our village, but they found nothing,” said one villager who spoke to Rohingya Khobor on condition of anonymity. “Still, they burned houses and beat people.”
Witnesses confirmed that children, elderly persons, and other civilians were physically assaulted during the raid. Villagers described being punched, kicked, and whipped with wires, despite offering no resistance.
“We are innocent. We have no connection to any group,” said another resident. “We just want to live in peace, but they treat us like enemies.”
This attack is part of a growing pattern of violence against Rohingya communities in northern Rakhine since the AA seized control of large areas in 2024. Local sources in both Maungdaw and Buthidaung have reported a spike in abuses—including forced evictions, extortion, beatings, and home demolitions—under AA rule.
Community members say they are now living in constant fear, with no protection and nowhere to report the crimes committed against them.
“If we speak, we disappear,” said one elder. “But if we remain silent, they still burn our homes.”
As international attention remains focused on the broader conflict between the AA and junta forces, the plight of Rohingya civilians caught in between continues to go largely ignored.
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