By Hafizur Rahman
Maungdaw, August 17, 2025 — Rohingya residents in Maungdaw Township have accused the Tharayauk village administration of committing serious abuses, including extortion, intimidation, and physical torture. Villagers say the actions of the administration, led by village administrator Aung Sa Sa and his deputy, have created an atmosphere of fear and insecurity. They are calling on the Arakan Army (AA) leadership to stop the violations immediately.
Extortion and Arbitrary Punishments
According to local people, the administration routinely levels false accusations against Rohingya and uses them as excuses to demand money.
One Rohingya villager explained:
“If someone goes fishing in his own pond without asking permission, or if a person cannot attend night duty because of sickness, they are arrested, kept without food, and tied up with both legs until they pay money.”
Another resident described the practice as a daily reality:
“They don’t care if you are young or old. They tie people’s legs and keep them all night long. For them, it has become a normal practice.”
Targeting the Vulnerable
Survivors say even the elderly are not spared. A villager recalled a recent incident:
“Earlier this month, a 70-year-old father was tied up for more than a day just because his daughter stayed overnight at her parents’ home without registering. Punishing an old man like this shows how cruel they have become.”
Residents added that punishments are often carried out in public, deepening the humiliation of victims and spreading fear across the community.
Living Under Fear
Local Rohingya communities now describe Tharayauk as being under a “lawless authority,” where arbitrary rules and collective punishment have replaced any sense of justice.
They are urging the senior leadership of the Arakan Army to intervene, investigate the abuses, and restore security in the village. Without accountability, villagers say, the cycle of extortion and brutality will continue to erode their fragile livelihoods and dignity.
