By: Camp Correspondent
Maungdaw Township, Rakhine State – February 17, 2025
Rohingya residents in northern Maungdaw are facing escalating harassment and discrimination by Arakan Army (AA) soldiers stationed at multiple checkpoints throughout the township. Local sources report that checkpoints in villages such as Tharyarkauk, Kyetyoepyin, Nanchang, Rwat Nyo Taung, Mangala Gyi, Pyin Phyu, Kyauk Hla Gyi, Hla Baw Zaar, Pawn Zaar, and Thee Ho Kyon are being used to single out Rohingya travelers, while non-Rohingya individuals pass without hindrance.
Since February 15, many Rohingya villagers have been forced to dismount their bicycles and motorbikes at these checkpoints. “If we try to ride past the checkpoint, the soldiers stop us, question us, and sometimes even beat us,” said one Rohingya man from Kyauk Hla Gyi. He added that non-Rohingya people are allowed to pass freely without any trouble.
In addition to the physical harassment, local villagers allege that AA-appointed administrators are extorting money from the Rohingya. “They come to every house and demand 5,000 Kyat, saying it is for ‘fundraising’ for AA,” reported a resident from Pyin Phyu. “They don’t care if we have money or not. If we don’t pay, they threaten us.”
At several checkpoints, eyewitnesses described the soldiers engaging in degrading behavior. “The soldiers make fun of us, call us names, and tell us we have no rights here,” another villager stated. “We are just trying to live our lives, but they treat us like criminals.”
Local Rohingya communities are calling for fair treatment and an end to these discriminatory practices. “We are afraid to speak out because we know what happens to those who do, but we can’t keep suffering like this forever,” a resident confessed.
These reports highlight growing concerns over the systematic abuse faced by Rohingya civilians under AA control in northern Maungdaw, as community members continue to endure physical, financial, and verbal harassment while seeking to live in safety and dignity.
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