Arakan Army Forcibly Recruiting Rohingya Youths in Maungdaw

The Arakan Army (AA) is reportedly coercing Rohingya youths to join its ranks in various villages within Maungdaw Township, Arakan State of Myanmar. On August 5th, a group of approximately 37 AA members arrived in Kyaw Hle Kha village with a truck and conducted meetings with the villagers from Kyaw Hle Kha, Zin Paing Yar, and Minglalar Gyi villages.

During these meetings, the AA demanded that 30 Rohingya youths from each village join their forces, totaling 90 youths, if the villagers wish to remain in the areas under AA control. These youths are expected to undergo militia training with the AA within this month.

The AA has also threatened that any refusal to comply will result in brutal and inhumane torture and detention of their families. Furthermore, the inhabitants of Gyi Ken Pyin village are to be forcibly relocated to the three aforementioned villages and must be sheltered there.

The Rohingya residents of Zin Paing Yar, Minglalar Gyi, and Kyaw Hle Kha are deeply concerned about the forced recruitment and the potential use of their children as human shields in clashes against the Myanmar military.

For more information and updates, please contact Rohingya Vision News.

Rohingya Vision