by Hafizur Rahman
Maungdaw Township, Rakhine State. January 08, 2025
Rohingya residents of Shwe Zar village say the village administration went door to door on January 6, forcing families to sign written statements related to military service and compulsory attendance at a meeting.
According to multiple villagers, members of the village administration entered almost every household and demanded signatures from family representatives. The papers reportedly stated that the signatories agreed to attend a meeting on military service scheduled for the following morning at 9:00 a.m. Residents said they were given no real choice.
“They came early in the morning and told us everyone must sign and attend,” a Rohingya man from Shwe Zar told Rohingya Khobor. “They said if we refuse, there will be punishment. We were afraid.”
Villagers said the administration warned that failure to attend the meeting would bring serious consequences. In households where adult men were absent, women were ordered to sign and told they must attend the meeting in place of their husbands or male relatives.
“My husband is not at home,” a Rohingya woman from the village said. “They told me clearly that I have to go instead of him. I was very scared, but I signed because I do not want problems for my family.”
Residents say meetings linked to military service have long caused fear in Shwe Zar, with many people previously avoiding them. This time, however, the administration reportedly used direct pressure by collecting signatures from house to house to ensure attendance.
“Before, many people did not go to these meetings,” another villager explained. “That is why they came to every door this time. They said if even one person is missing, action will be taken.”
As the meeting approaches, fear and uncertainty remain high in the village. Families say they are living under constant pressure, unsure what demands may follow or what the meeting will lead to.
Residents told Rohingya Khobor they will continue to share information as the situation develops, as concern spreads from one household to another in Shwe Zar.
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