By Camp Correspondent
March 2, 2025
More than 100 Rohingya, including women and children, have been sentenced to two years in prison and transferred to Kawthaung Jail, according to local sources in Myanmar’s Buthidaung Township.
The group, consisting of 97 men and women and five children, was arrested by Myanmar’s military on February 5 while hiding in an oil palm plantation in Taung Dagon village tract.
They were reportedly attempting to travel to Thailand when they were captured.
On February 21, after more than two weeks in detention, the Buthidaung Township Court sentenced them under Myanmar’s Registration Act, citing their lack of official identification documents.
The following day, February 22, authorities transported them to Kawthaung Prison.
A local resident expressed deep concern about their future, saying:
“Only the military knows what will happen to them when they are released. Sentencing children to prison is completely unjust.”
Military Crackdown on Rohingya Movement
The arrested Rohingya had traveled from Rakhine State and were attempting to cross into Thailand, but they did not have official identification papers, making them vulnerable to arrest, according to local residents.
“This is the first time that people traveling illegally to Thailand have been arrested in Buthidaung Township, and the fact that they are Rohingya could be a key reason,” said a resident from Taung Khamat village tract.
During the arrest, the Myanmar military opened fire on the group, killing one Rohingya man on the spot and seriously injuring six others.
The wounded were taken to Buthidaung Township Hospital for medical treatment. However, two more men later died from their injuries.
Growing Concerns Over Rohingya Persecution
The mass arrest and sentencing of these Rohingya highlight the continuing persecution and severe restrictions faced by the community in Myanmar.
Many Rohingya are denied citizenship, restricted from traveling freely, and face ongoing threats of violence and imprisonment.
Despite international condemnation, Myanmar’s military continues its brutal crackdown on Rohingya, blocking their freedom of movement and punishing those attempting to flee in search of safety.
The latest incident adds to the growing humanitarian crisis, leaving thousands of Rohingya with no safe place to go.
Urgent Need for Action
Human rights organizations and Rohingya advocacy groups are calling for immediate international intervention to address these injustices. With the situation worsening, urgent diplomatic and humanitarian efforts are needed to protect Rohingya lives and ensure justice for those unlawfully imprisoned.
