By: Camp Correspondent
Arakan State – The Rohingya community in Maungdaw and Buthidaung Townships continues to face severe persecution and exploitation at the hands of the Arakan Army (AA), with recent incidents highlighting the dire situation.
On January 24, the AA detained a family of 10 Rohingya, including women and children, as they returned to their home in Shwe Zar village, Maungdaw Township, after receiving medical treatment in Bangladesh. Among the detainees is a diabetic woman who had traveled for urgent medical care, accompanied by her husband and children due to the lack of caregivers.
The family was stopped at the AA’s Magla Gyi Chaung Wa camp and has been held since, with the AA demanding 5 million MMK (Myanmar Kyats) for their release. Relatives of the detained family expressed desperation, stating:
“We are terrified. Crossing the border for medical treatment is already risky, but now even returning home has become a life-threatening ordeal. This demand is beyond anything the family can afford.”
This incident has instilled fear among other Rohingyas who are forced to cross the border for medical care due to the lack of healthcare facilities in Maungdaw. So far, the AA has not responded to pleas for the family’s release, leaving them in limbo.
Forced Displacement in Buthidaung Township
On the same day, the AA also escalated its campaign of forced displacement in Ward (5) of Buthidaung Township. Notices were placed on the homes of four missing Rohingyas, warning that no one could reside in the houses unless the individuals are handed over to the group.
The four individuals, who fled after the AA began forcibly conscripting hundreds of Rohingyas, had reportedly paid 1 million MMK each to lower-ranking AA soldiers to escape to Maungdaw. Unable to locate them, the AA has forced their families to live with neighbors and issued an ultimatum to all Rohingyas in Noya Para, Ward (5), to leave their homes by 9:00 AM on January 27 and move to makeshift shelters on the paddy fields of Labadaung.
The missing individuals are:
- Muhammad Einus (31), son of Abdul Hameed
- Salamat Ullah (35)
- Mahmet Ayyas (18), son of Mamat Shobi
- Jahangir Alam (24), son of Abul Qasim
Exploitation, Restrictions, and Desperation
Residents in Buthidaung face extreme hardship, including extortion, forced labor, and severe movement restrictions. One resident explained:
“We cannot farm, fish, or work. Our lives are trapped under these conditions. We pay the AA every month, but they continue to make our survival impossible.”
Another resident described the unbearable conditions:
“To travel anywhere, we need a permit from the AA, which costs 10,000 to 20,000 kyats. Without it, we risk being beaten. They force us to clean the ruins of homes they’ve burned. They find every way to exploit us.”
Ward (5) is home to approximately 6,000 Rohingyas, who have not received humanitarian assistance for over a year. Many are on the brink of famine, struggling to survive under oppressive conditions.
Meanwhile, the AA has allowed Rakhine and Hindu residents in downtown Buthidaung to return to their homes, despite the absence of conflict for months, highlighting the discriminatory policies against the Rohingya community.
Call for Immediate Action
These incidents underscore the ongoing plight of Rohingyas in Arakan State, where forced displacement, arbitrary detention, and extortion are rampant. The international community and humanitarian organizations are urged to intervene urgently to address these violations and ensure the safety and dignity of Rohingya families who remain in Arakan.
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