Tensions are rising in Maungdaw Township as the Arakan Army (AA) is reportedly coercing Rohingya youths to join their ranks in several villages. On August 5th, approximately 37 members of the AA arrived in a truck at Kyaw Hle Kha, a Rohingya village, and conducted a meeting that has left the community in fear.
During the gathering, the AA members addressed residents from Zin Paing Yar, Minglalar Gyi, and Kyaw Hle Kha villages, delivering a stark ultimatum: each village must provide 30 youths to join the Arakan Army, or face severe consequences. In total, 90 Rohingya youths are expected to join the militia within the month, where they will undergo military training. The AA further threatened that if the villagers refuse to comply, their families will be detained.
The Rohingya communities in these villages are deeply concerned, particularly about the potential forcible recruitment of their children, who may be used as human shields in future conflicts with the Myanmar military.
Adding to their worries, the AA reportedly announced that the inhabitants of Kyi Kan Pyin village will be forcibly relocated to Kyaw Hle Kha, Zin Paing Yar, and Minglalar Gyi villages. These displaced villagers must be accommodated by the already distressed communities.
As the situation escalates, the Rohingya residents are left grappling with fear and uncertainty, facing both the threat of forced conscription and the challenges of accommodating new arrivals under the harsh control of the Arakan Army. The international community is urged to monitor the situation closely and provide assistance to those affected by these developments.
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