By: Camp Correspondent
Maungdaw, May 27, 2025 — Six Rohingya fishermen from Mingalar Gyi village remain in detention under the custody of the Arakan Army (AA) military intelligence unit, nearly a month after they were picked up — despite having formal permission from a nearby AA border outpost to fish.
According to village residents, the men had left their homes on April 30 after obtaining fishing clearance from the AA-controlled border post in Ywet Nyo Taung village. As part of a local understanding, the fishermen were required to share half of their catch with the camp that permitted them.
“They were doing what they’ve done many times before — fishing to survive,” said one relative. “But this time, they never came back.”
Disappearance and Denial
When the men failed to return on May 1, families and fellow villagers began searching along the Naf River. They eventually found the group’s fishing boat and gear near the designated area, but no trace of the men themselves.
On May 2, concerned relatives approached the same AA outpost that had given permission. At first, the guards claimed to not know the fishermen’s whereabouts.
It was only two weeks later, on May 18, that the families received word: the six men were in fact being held by AA’s military intelligence wing, though the exact reasons for their detention remain unclear.
“When we asked to see them, the intelligence officers told us: ‘Whether they had permission or not doesn’t matter. We’re not the same unit as the border guards,’” said one family member. “We are terrified. We don’t know what they’re being accused of — or if they’re even being fed.”
No Charges, No Visits, No Updates
As of May 27, the detainees have not been released. Their families have not been allowed to visit or communicate with them. The AA intelligence unit has informed relatives that an investigation is ongoing, and no timeline has been given for their release.
Local Rohingya residents say the incident has heightened fear in surrounding communities. Fishing — one of the few remaining ways to survive under AA control — now feels like a risk with no guarantee of return.
“Even with permission, we are not safe,” said one elder in Mingalar Gyi. “We follow the rules, but the rules keep changing.”
Pattern of Arbitrary Detention
This is not the first time that Rohingya civilians engaging in daily subsistence activities — such as fishing, farming, or collecting firewood — have been detained under AA authority. In several recent incidents across Maungdaw and Buthidaung, individuals have been picked up despite having verbal or written permissions from AA camps.
Community leaders are urging the AA leadership to clarify chains of command between its military units and administrative outposts, and to ensure consistency and transparency in civilian interactions. Human rights monitors warn that such detentions, without process or charges, may constitute arbitrary deprivation of liberty under international law.
