By: Camp Correspondent
Rakhine State, May 25, 2025 — Over 40 ethnic Rakhine residents from Taung Goke Township have been detained by the Arakan Army (AA/ULA) after protesting a newly issued military recruitment order that mandates compulsory service for all adults in the region. The protest took place on May 18 across five villages, with arrests carried out on the same day.
As of today, the detainees remain in custody, with no formal charges or releases, sparking growing anxiety among families and local communities.
“We don’t hate the AA,” said one resident who asked to remain anonymous for safety reasons. “But forcing someone’s son or daughter to go to war — that’s something no parent can accept. Those who want to serve should be allowed. But those who refuse should not be treated as traitors.”
Another local expressed frustration that even long-time AA sympathizers and women working in the fields were taken by force. “This doesn’t feel like an order from AA leadership,” he said. “It feels like some local commanders are acting on personal grudges.”
The detainees reportedly include farmers, students, and even former AA volunteers. Community members say the protest was peaceful and intended only to inform the central AA leadership about growing fears among ordinary people. “We just wanted them to hear us. We didn’t expect arrests,” said one young protester. “Most of our villages don’t even have internet access. People are afraid to take photos or speak online.”
Mandatory Conscription and Travel Bans
On May 22, the AA formally announced that all young people in Rakhine State are prohibited from leaving the region and must report for military service. Under the order:
- Males aged 18–45
- Females aged 18–25
…are required to serve in AA ranks. No official exemption process has been publicly announced.
This sudden policy has sparked deep concern, especially among students hoping to pursue higher education and youth seeking work abroad due to chronic unemployment in the region. “Young people already have so few opportunities,” said one parent. “Now even education is being blocked.”
Locals warn that the forced recruitment will have long-term consequences on education, livelihoods, and trust between the AA and the very communities it claims to protect.
Call for Dialogue and Release
Despite the outcry, AA leadership has yet to issue any statement regarding the detentions or the protests. Families of the arrested are calling for their immediate release, stressing that opposing forced conscription does not mean they oppose the AA’s broader cause.
“We are not enemies,” said one villager. “But we are being treated like we are.”
With rising fear and restricted mobility, many residents across Rakhine State now find themselves caught between military demands and the loss of basic freedoms — a familiar pattern for the region’s minorities, including the Rohingya, who have long lived under similar restrictions.
