By: Camp Correspondent
May 7, 2025 | Northern Maungdaw, Arakan State
Rohingya villagers in northern Maungdaw Township have been forced by the Arakan Army (AA) to build a new main road connecting Thu U Lar and Hla Phoe Khaung villages, according to residents. The order, issued on May 6, has targeted three predominantly Rohingya villages: Thu U Lar, Myaw Taung, and Dar Gyi Zar.
Eyewitnesses say villagers are being made to carry out the construction work manually, without any equipment, payment, or food. The forced labor includes digging, transporting soil, and laying foundations for the road that will benefit AA movement and logistics—not the local communities.
“We are being treated like slaves,” said one villager who is working on the site with his two teenage sons, aged 15 and 17. “If we say no, they threaten to evict us. Some families have already fled, others are just waiting for the chance.”
Pattern of Forced Labor and Intimidation
This is not the first time the AA has used Rohingya civilians for unpaid labor. Since the armed group seized control of parts of Maungdaw and Buthidaung, residents report being compelled to:
- Clean streets and dig trenches
- Cut trees and build AA bases
- Carry heavy materials for construction
- Guard AA outposts in rotation
The majority of those forced into labor are poor day laborers, farmers, and youths, many of whom are already malnourished and living in fear.
“Our people are hungry. Now they want us to work without food or pay,” said another villager. “Is this their revolution—to use us as tools while denying us dignity?”
A Growing Exodus to Bangladesh
With no formal protection and daily threats from the AA, many Rohingya families are planning to flee once again—this time from Rakhine’s new rulers.
However, escaping is not easy. Those attempting to cross into Bangladesh are forced to pay bribes to AA checkpoints and local smugglers, often risking their lives in the process.
“We want to leave,” said a father of five. “But we cannot afford the smugglers’ fees. Some neighbors sold their cattle to get out. The rest of us are stuck—working by day, fearing arrest at night.”
Urgent Appeal for International Attention
Community members and human rights defenders are urging the international community, including the UN and regional bodies, to investigate the use of forced labor and ongoing persecution of Rohingya civilians by the Arakan Army.
The AA, which claims to fight for self-determination, has systematically excluded the Rohingya from governance, while forcing them to contribute to its military and infrastructure projects.
“If this is the future of Arakan, then what hope is left for Rohingya?” asked a community elder in Myaw Taung.
As fear spreads and more families prepare to flee, Rohingya communities once again find themselves caught between military power, statelessness, and displacement—with no guarantees of protection, justice, or peace.
