By: Camp Correspondent
Maungdaw, Arakan State – July 11, 2025
A newly appointed commander of the Arakan Army (AA) has issued a severe warning to Rohingya communities in Maungdaw, threatening to burn down entire villages if any links are found with armed groups such as the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) or the Rohingya Solidarity Organization (RSO).
The threat was delivered during a meeting held on July 8 in Pyin Phyu village, northern Maungdaw. The commander, identified only as “Du Li,” summoned local representatives from nearby villages including Kyauk Shilar, Paungzar, Lapaowzar, Shwezar, Mingala Gyi, and Thayak Oak. He warned that any cooperation with ARSA or RSO would lead to severe consequences—including the burning of villages.
“There will be no discrimination,” the commander reportedly said at first, attempting to project inclusivity by referring to all residents, including Muslims, as part of the “Arakan people.” However, he swiftly followed this with a stark ultimatum: report any armed group presence or face collective punishment.
This warning comes in the wake of an internal reshuffling within the Arakan Army, which saw new troops deployed from the Chaung Wa base on July 7. Residents fear that these changes mark a more aggressive phase of enforcement.
Local sources report no credible evidence of ARSA or RSO activity in northern Maungdaw. Instead, they allege that social media rumors and doctored posts are being used to justify threats, raids, and forced displacements—similar to tactics reported during earlier operations in Buthidaung.
“We live under constant fear,” said a resident from Thi Chaung village. “They arrest innocent people, restrict our movements, and now they are threatening to burn our homes.”
Since taking control of Maungdaw on December 8, 2024, the Arakan Army has reportedly carried out a range of repressive actions:
- Confiscation of property based on unverified accusations
- Arbitrary closures of Rohingya homes
- Forced displacements from ancestral lands
- Checkpoints at the entrance and exit of every Rohingya village
- Tight restrictions on movement and medical access
The threat of burning villages evokes grim memories of previous waves of violence and mass displacement. Community leaders warn that this could be the beginning of another round of collective punishment aimed at forcing Rohingya civilians out of their homes.
Human rights observers and community voices are urgently calling for international attention and protection measures. “This is not counter-insurgency,” one activist told Rohingya Khobor. “It’s intimidation—designed to break our will and erase our presence.”
