By: Camp Correspondent
April 7, 2025
Fear is mounting among Rohingya residents in northern Maungdaw following a violent campaign by the Arakan Army (AA), which stormed multiple villages, assaulted civilians, and forcibly detained at least three men on Sunday, April 6.
According to local sources, armed AA fighters raided the villages of Magyi Gyi, U Chay Kya, and Kyauk Hla Gyaung (also known as Kyauk Hawng Taung) starting around 10 a.m., continuing their operations until evening.
Residents reported that soldiers went door to door, ransacking homes, destroying property, and threatening villagers. A Rohingya man from Kyauk Hla Gyaung was reportedly stabbed during the attack, and at least three others were taken away without explanation.
Eyewitnesses told Rohingya Khobor that the AA forced entire communities—including women, children, and the elderly—to stand outside under the scorching sun for hours as soldiers searched their homes.
“They treated us like criminals, with no regard for our age or suffering,” said one villager, who asked not to be named due to fear of reprisals.
This latest wave of violence comes amid heightened tensions following the disappearance of a Rakhine man, U Aye Tun Maung. Without any credible evidence, the Arakan Army has blamed Rohingya villagers for the disappearance, triggering a campaign of mass intimidation, arbitrary arrests, and abuse.
Many observers believe that the AA is leveraging this incident to stoke anti-Rohingya sentiment among ethnic Rakhine communities and consolidate its control in the region.
The strategy mirrors tactics used during past waves of violence, particularly in 2012, when widespread misinformation, incitement, and organized attacks forced hundreds of thousands of Rohingya into displacement.
With memories of past atrocities still fresh, families in northern Maungdaw are once again contemplating escape. “People are scared. They are looking for any possible way to get out before something worse happens,” a local source said.
The situation on the ground remains dire, with little intervention from international actors. Rights groups warn that unless urgent action is taken, more Rohingya lives will be endangered as this cycle of persecution escalates.
