By: Camp Correspondent
Buthidaung, Rakhine State – January 29, 2025 – The Arakan Army (AA) forcibly removed all Rohingya residents of Ward (5) in Buthidaung Township early in the morning on January 28, making them stay in an open field without food or water for the entire day before allowing them to return home in the evening.
According to local sources, around 50 AA soldiers entered the ward at approximately 8:40 AM, ordering Rohingya residents to vacate their homes immediately. While one group forced families into the open field near Let Wel Det Pyin Shay and Kyauk Hla Pyin villages, another group conducted house-to-house searches.
Residents were not informed of the reason for the searches or what the AA was looking for. Meanwhile, in the fields, people were questioned about their movements, activities, and whether they had any connections to the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA).
“The children were crying because they were hungry, but even water was not allowed,” a resident told MDN.
At around 5:00 PM, the Rohingya were permitted to return to their homes, but fear and uncertainty linger among the community.
A Larger Pattern of Forced Displacement
Ward (5) in Buthidaung is home to around 6,000 Rohingya, who have been struggling without humanitarian aid for over a year. Many fear that this temporary removal could be a prelude to permanent eviction, leaving them homeless and vulnerable.
Although there has been no active fighting in recent months, the AA continues to impose harsh restrictions on Rohingya, including forced displacements, extortion, and movement restrictions. While Rakhine and Hindu residents in Buthidaung are allowed to return to their homes, Rohingya families remain under threat.
“Why are we the only ones being pushed out? We have nowhere else to go. If they take our homes, we will die,” said one displaced resident.
This latest incident adds to the long history of persecution faced by Rohingya in Myanmar. Since the 2017 military crackdown, which forced over 700,000 Rohingya into Bangladesh, the remaining Rohingya have been subjected to systematic discrimination, statelessness, and extreme hardship.
The international community has repeatedly condemned the treatment of Rohingya, but the situation remains dire. Human rights organizations are calling for immediate action to prevent further displacement and to ensure the safety and rights of Rohingya communities in Myanmar.
