By: Camp Correspondent
May 13, 2025
A boat carrying around 40 Rohingya refugees has landed near the coastal border of Yebyu and Launglon Townships in Dawei District, part of the southern Tanintharyi Region of Myanmar, according to local media outlet Tanintharyi Times. The landing reportedly took place on the night of May 9.
Eyewitnesses spotted the motorboat as it approached a remote beach. Shortly after their arrival, the group was detained by local military forces stationed in Dawei. A senior officer from the battalion confirmed that the Rohingya are currently in military custody and “under watch,” though no further details were given regarding their condition or future treatment.
The Rohingya, a stateless Muslim minority originally from Rakhine State in western Myanmar, continue to flee persecution, armed conflict, and long-standing denial of citizenship. Since the genocidal crackdown of 2017, over 700,000 Rohingya have crossed into Bangladesh, where many still remain confined in overcrowded refugee camps with little hope for repatriation.
Although the point of departure for this group remains unconfirmed, past migration patterns suggest they may have set out either from the camps in Cox’s Bazar or from displacement zones within Rakhine State itself. Their risky journey reflects growing desperation, as conditions inside both Myanmar and the camps deteriorate due to conflict, poverty, and the absence of long-term solutions.
Local sources in Tanintharyi say the arrival was unexpected. Human rights observers warn that without independent monitoring, such detentions could lead to further abuse or forced returns, particularly given Myanmar’s ongoing civil war and military impunity.
“These desperate sea journeys are a sign that the Rohingya crisis remains unresolved,” said a Rohingya activist based in Bangladesh. “Until justice, safety, and rights are guaranteed, our people will keep risking their lives at sea.”
This incident is the latest reminder that the Rohingya struggle for safety and dignity is far from over—and that even within Myanmar’s shifting geography, there remains no clear place for them to call home.
