By: Camp Correspondent
April 22, 2025 | Northern Maungdaw, Rakhine State
Rohingya villagers across multiple areas in northern Maungdaw Township are being forcibly conscripted by the Arakan Army (AA) into road construction work and are also witnessing the destruction of their ancestral forests—adding another layer to the growing pattern of exploitation under AA control.
According to residents, since February 15, the AA has compelled at least one person per household from several Rohingya villages—including Hlaboza, Paungza, Mingalagyi, and Kyauk Hlay Khaw—to work daily on a road-building project stretching from Pyin Phyu (Zone 6) to Kyikanpyin headquarters.
“They told us if someone doesn’t go, we must pay 20,000 to 50,000 kyats. Some families have no adult men, so they send young boys instead,” said a villager from Paungza, speaking under condition of anonymity.
Harsh Conditions and Threats for Non-Compliance
Villagers report working from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. under the scorching sun, with no food or water provided. They are forced to carry their own meals, and even short breaks are discouraged—often resulting in verbal abuse or intimidation by armed personnel.
“We work all day breaking stones, and then at night we are forced to take night guard duty too,” said a man from Hlaboza. “It’s not labor anymore—it feels like we are slaves.”
Children Being Forced to Work
In families without able-bodied men, even underage boys are being pushed into physically demanding labor, raising serious concerns over child rights violations.
“My nephew is only 14. He’s been breaking stones for three weeks because there’s no one else in the house,” one resident told Rohingya Khobor.
Widespread Deforestation and Timber Looting
At the same time, the AA has begun cutting down Rohingya-owned forests in the areas of Kyikanpyin, Wabok, Fawutchaung, Myautaung, and Nwayon Taung. Witnesses report seeing hillsides burned and cleared, with felled timber transported across the border into Bangladesh—presumably for sale.
“They are destroying our forests and selling the wood while we are forced to break stones. We own nothing anymore,” said a man from Nwayon Taung.
Such actions not only rob communities of their natural resources but also have lasting ecological consequences for the region.
Tightened Restrictions and Surveillance
In addition to forced labor and deforestation, the AA has imposed strict limitations on movement between villages and banned the hosting of guests without prior approval. Villagers are under pressure to report any suspected ARSA activity, which has contributed to a climate of fear and suspicion.
“Now we’re afraid of everyone—outsiders, neighbors, even our own voices,” said a resident from Mingalagyi. “The punishment is collective if someone is accused.”
A Community Under Siege
These developments represent an ongoing pattern of control and economic exploitation targeting Rohingya communities in areas under AA rule. Forced labor, confiscation of land and timber, night patrol duties, and movement restrictions have left villagers feeling trapped, silenced, and stripped of basic rights.
“We are tired. There is no rest, no justice, and no future if this continues,” said a young Rohingya man.
Rohingya leaders in displacement and rights groups are urging immediate international attention to the growing abuses in northern Rakhine. Without protection and documentation, they warn, these silent forms of daily oppression will continue to push already-vulnerable populations deeper into poverty and trauma.
