By: Camp Correspondent
April 22, 2025 | Buthidaung, Rakhine State
The Arakan Army (AA) has reportedly executed four Rohingya men who escaped from a prison in Buthidaung, where the armed group had recently taken control. The killings occurred days after more than 20 Rohingya detainees fled the facility on April 13, amid reports of inhumane treatment and torture inside the detention center.
Local sources told Rohingya Khobor that following its occupation of Buthidaung, the AA arrested hundreds of Rohingya civilians under allegations of collaboration with Myanmar’s military. Many of those detained have faced beatings, forced labor, and prolonged abuse—without access to legal procedures or medical attention.
“Every day they beat us with sticks and forced us to carry heavy loads,” said a former prisoner who escaped but remains in hiding. “If someone got sick, there was no doctor or medicine. When people died, we weren’t even allowed to bury them properly. Those who tried to escape—AA shot them without hesitation.”
Four Prisoners Killed in Kyauk Tan
According to residents, on April 16, AA troops located four of the escaped prisoners in Kyauk Tan village and executed them on the spot. The remaining escapees are believed to be hiding in forests and mountainous areas, as AA continues its search operations.
No official statement has been made by the Arakan Army regarding the incident.
Mosques and Property Destroyed in Nanyar Kone
In a separate incident tied to the broader military takeover, the AA reportedly destroyed mosques, an Islamic school, rice mills, and other civilian infrastructure in Nanyar Kone village—which it captured following an assault on junta positions in January 2024.
“They destroyed our mosques, stole our machinery, even took motorcycles and furniture from homes,” said a resident from Nanyar Kone who is now displaced. “We have nothing left, and we are too afraid to return.”
Eyewitnesses confirmed the destruction of four mosques and one madrasa, as well as the looting of farming equipment and household assets. Villagers have not been allowed to return since the occupation, and many are living in makeshift shelters or hiding in the surrounding hills.
Growing Fear, Displacement, and Silence
The reported executions and systematic destruction of Rohingya religious and economic infrastructure have heightened fear across Buthidaung Township, where thousands of Rohingya remain trapped between armed conflict, displacement, and the loss of livelihood.
“There is no justice, no protection, and no voice for us,” said a Rohingya farmer. “We are being erased one village at a time.”
Human rights observers and Rohingya advocacy groups have called for urgent international monitoring and documentation, especially in areas recently seized by the AA, where unlawful killings, looting, and religious persecution are reportedly on the rise.
