By: Camp Correspondent
Maungdaw, Rakhine State — June 14, 2025
Rohingya communities in at least six villages across northern Maungdaw Township are facing the threat of forced relocation by the Arakan Army (AA), sparking fresh fear and uncertainty as the monsoon season intensifies.
Villagers from Pwint Phyu Chaung, Thu U Lar, Tharyar Oak, Dar Gyi Sar, Kyauk Chaung, and Yay Twin Pyin say they have been warned to prepare for evacuation under the pretext of “security concerns” linked to alleged Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) activity in the area.
According to sources close to Muslim administrative leaders appointed by the AA, the warning came during a recent meeting at the AA’s Kyee Kan Pyin headquarters, where village administrators were told that any indication of ARSA presence would result in the wholesale removal of entire communities.
“They told us if there is any sign of ARSA, the whole village will be moved,” said a Rohingya elder from Dar Gyi Sar, requesting anonymity for fear of reprisal. “But we have lived here peacefully for years. We don’t know why we are being targeted.”
Evacuation Threat During Monsoon Season Raises Alarm
The looming threat of displacement comes as heavy rains and flooding have already made life precarious across the region. For families with children, the fear of losing their homes—again—is unbearable.
“It’s raining every day. And now they’re talking about moving us with no shelter, no plan,” said Fatima, a mother of five from Tharyar Oak. “Where will we sleep? What will we eat? How will our children survive this?”
Rohingya residents believe that the alleged ARSA threat is being exaggerated or fabricated to justify crackdowns and population control measures.
“There is no real ARSA here,” said a resident of Pwint Phyu Chaung. “What we hear are fake sounds and videos being circulated to create panic. It looks like the AA is using that as an excuse to push us out.”
Pattern of Suppression Intensifies
The latest warning comes on the heels of recent search operations, arbitrary detentions, and movement restrictions in Rohingya villages across Maungdaw—actions the AA claims are aimed at combating ARSA insurgency.
But many Rohingya fear these measures are part of a broader strategy of intimidation and demographic restructuring.
“We feel like we’re always one step away from losing our homes again,” said a teacher from Kyauk Chaung. “First the military, now the AA—no one sees us as people, only as a problem.”
Calls for International Monitoring
As tensions rise, local Rohingya leaders are urging the United Nations, human rights organizations, and international observers to monitor the situation and press for transparency.
They warn that any forced relocation in the current weather conditions could lead to a humanitarian disaster, especially in areas already struggling with lack of food, shelter, and medical care.
“We are not fighters. We are farmers, mothers, students,” said one community representative. “We need protection—not more fear, not another exile.”
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