AA Accused of Arbitrary Arrests of Rohingya

MAUNGDAW, Arakan State — Since seizing full control of Maungdaw Township on December 8, 2024, the Arakan Army (AA) has been increasingly accused of targeting Rohingya civilians with arbitrary arrests, brutal torture, and extrajudicial violence, according to multiple eyewitnesses and community sources.

On April 6, four Rohingya men from Kyar Gaung Taung village in northern Maungdaw were reportedly arrested by AA forces without any formal charges. One of the detainees was apprehended in Ken Pyin, a nearby Rakhine-majority village. All four men were subsequently taken to the AA military base in Kyin Chaung.

“They were taken without explanation—no accusations, no warrants. Just armed men showing up and dragging them away,” said a local resident who witnessed the incident.

Torture and Death in Custody

Eyewitnesses confirmed that one of the detainees, Anamul Hason, son of Mohammed Shabu, died in custody on April 12. According to local sources, he was beaten to death in Ken Pyin village by AA soldiers and armed Rakhine civilians. His body has not been returned to his family.

Anamul’s brother, Anuwar Sadek, who was arrested alongside him, remains in detention at the Kyin Chaung base and has reportedly been subjected to severe physical torture.

“They cut off his fingers and toes. He’s still alive, but they’re still interrogating him,” a source told Rohingya Khobor, speaking on condition of anonymity due to security concerns.

The two other detainees—Mohammed Akter and Mohammed Eleyas—are also believed to still be held at the same location. Their health and treatment conditions remain unknown.

Rising Fear and Insecurity

The incident has sent shockwaves across northern Maungdaw, deepening fear among Rohingya communities already suffering from arbitrary arrests, forced labor, and violence. Community leaders are warning that the latest developments reflect an escalating campaign of intimidation and ethnic persecution by the Arakan Army.

“This is not an isolated case,” said a Rohingya elder from Maungdaw. “Since early 2024, we’ve seen many cases of Rohingya being detained, tortured, and even killed—but no one is held accountable.”

Lack of Accountability and International Response

Neither the Arakan Army nor its political wing, the United League of Arakan (ULA), has issued a public statement regarding the arrests or the killing of Anamul Hason. No formal charges have been brought against the detainees.

Local Rohingya fear these acts are part of a broader campaign of repression, where innocent civilians are arbitrarily labeled as security threats and subjected to collective punishment—without legal process or human rights safeguards.

Rohingya Vision News will continue to monitor this developing situation.