By: Camp Correspondent
May 7, 2025 – Maungdaw, Arakan State
Three Rohingya men were reportedly abducted by Arakan Army (AA) fighters on the night of May 5 from the Chilkhali–Kyauk Chaung area in northern Maungdaw, sparking renewed fear and tension among local residents.
According to villagers, around 10:30 PM, armed AA personnel entered the area and called out the victims by name using the Rohingya language—a tactic believed to have been used to lure the men out before detaining them.
“They spoke our language to make us feel safe, but it was a trap,” said one villager, speaking to Rohingya Khobor on condition of anonymity. “Our brothers stepped out and never came back. Now everyone in the village is living in fear.”
Propaganda Blamed for Deflecting Responsibility
Shortly after the incident, a report by Arakan Bay News Media—a pro-AA outlet—falsely attributed the abductions to the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), a claim strongly disputed by both eyewitnesses and local sources.
“We know who came,” said Noor Alam, a relative of one of the missing men. “They wore AA uniforms. They carried AA weapons. They were shouting, not in Burmese, but in our Rohingya tongue.”
Observers believe the misinformation campaign is part of a deliberate strategy to pit Rohingya against each other and obscure the AA’s growing pattern of abuse, which includes abductions, extortion, forced displacement, and denial of access to essential services.
Community Under Siege Amid AA Expansion
Since gaining control over much of northern Maungdaw and Buthidaung, the Arakan Army has been accused of systematically targeting Rohingya communities. Rights groups and community leaders say this includes:
- Night-time raids and abductions
- Intimidation and house-to-house inspections
- Spreading false narratives through local media
These actions have left already displaced and stateless Rohingya civilians increasingly vulnerable.
“The world must understand: these are not isolated incidents. This is part of a larger effort to erase our presence and weaken our voice,” said a Rohingya rights activist from Maungdaw.
Urgent Call for International Scrutiny
Human rights monitors are now calling on international media, the United Nations, and fact-finding missions to urgently verify the incidents and hold the perpetrators accountable.
“Without immediate action, truth will be buried under layers of propaganda,” warned a humanitarian observer. “The Rohingya community has long suffered from silence. We cannot allow false narratives to take root again.”
As violence and misinformation converge, the demand for justice, protection, and truthful reporting has never been more urgent. The Rohingya people, long denied rights and recognition in their homeland, now face a new form of erasure—through fear, lies, and silence.
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