By: Camp Correspondent
Buthidaung, May 14, 2025 —
More than 20 Rohingya villagers from Pharong Chaung, located in the southern part of Buthidaung Township, were reportedly detained by Arakan Army (AA) troops on May 12 while collecting bamboo in the nearby mountains—a key source of income for many families in the area.
According to local sources, the villagers had left early in the morning to cut bamboo east of the village, in the Pharong mountain area, as they routinely do to sustain their livelihoods. But that day, they did not return by noon as usual, triggering panic among their families.
“They always go in the morning and come back by midday. But today, they didn’t return. We waited until evening, but no one came back,” said a local resident. “When some villagers went searching, they saw AA soldiers in the area but were too afraid to approach them.”
Eyewitness accounts say that AA soldiers suddenly appeared, tied the bamboo collectors with rope, and led them into the forested hills. A young cowherd reportedly saw the entire incident from a distance.
“The boy told us that he saw the AA tie their hands and take them into the woods. He was scared and ran away,” the villager added.
Following the incident, the AA has reportedly banned all villagers from going to the mountains or collecting bamboo—a devastating blow to the already struggling Rohingya community of Pharong Chaung, where bamboo cutting and selling is one of the few ways to earn a living.
Locals fear the arrests may not be temporary, and that this new restriction could lead to severe food insecurity, especially as movement is already restricted and alternative jobs are unavailable.
“We rely on bamboo. Without it, we can’t buy rice or feed our families,” said another villager. “Now they’ve taken our people—and our only livelihood too.”
This incident adds to the growing list of arbitrary arrests, forced restrictions, and livelihood blockades Rohingya villagers are facing in AA-controlled parts of northern Rakhine. Residents are calling on humanitarian organizations and international rights groups to investigate and intervene before the situation worsens further.
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