By: Camp Correspondent
October 11, 2021
The Rohingya community in Arakan is facing escalating persecution as the Arakan Army has intensified its campaign of arrests, beatings, and forced taxation.
Reports indicate that members of the armed group, now freely operating across the region, have begun seizing Rohingya properties and imposing heavy financial burdens on an already vulnerable population.
On October 11, nine Rohingya men from Dotan and Phang Chong villages were brutally beaten while collecting firewood in the Mayu Mountains, west of Sha.
The victims, who rely on selling firewood for survival, were allegedly targeted as part of increasing restrictions on Rohingya movement and employment.
A local resident, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the armed group is systematically restricting Rohingya communities and taking over their properties.
“They want to drive us out of our homeland by making life unbearable. They seize our properties, destroy our farms, and impose heavy taxes,” he said.
Names of the Nine Arrested and Beaten Rohingya
- Adu Goni (b) Abdullah
- Mamat Rafeef (b) Mamat Syed
- Saulim (b) Futiya
- Shukkur (b) Futiya
- Adu Salam (b) Adugofor
- Noorah Min (b) Abdullah
- Tayup (b) Sawkir Amat
- Usman (b) Musa Ali
- Shafi Ullah (b) Adushu Kkur
Forced Taxation on Rohingya Households
On October 7, an AA delegation held a meeting in Buthidaung Township with Rohingya parents, declaring that they control 80% of Arakan and will soon take full control. During this meeting, they imposed a mandatory monthly tax on Rohingya families, demanding payments based on financial status:
- 5,000 kyats for families with higher income
- 3,000 kyats for middle-income households
- 2,000 kyats for lower-income families
In addition to household taxation, they have also imposed levies on businesses, including fishing, prawn farms, and fish ponds. A villager reported that those who fail to comply face arrest and imprisonment.
The Rohingya, already struggling under economic hardship and displacement, are now under increasing pressure as the situation deteriorates.
Many fear further violence, forced displacement, and loss of livelihood under the expanding control of the armed group.
Urgent Calls for International Intervention
As the Rohingya continue to suffer under these oppressive conditions, human rights organizations and international bodies are being urged to take immediate action to address the ongoing persecution and ensure the safety of Rohingya civilians in Arakan.
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