Rohingya Boat Arrives in Dawei Amid Forced Pushback

Dawei District, Tanintharyi Region – A boat carrying approximately 40 Rohingya landed on the coast near the border of Yebyu and Launglon townships in Dawei District on the night of May 9, according to reports from the Tanintharyi Times and local residents.

Eyewitnesses confirmed that all individuals aboard were immediately taken into custody by Myanmar military coastal battalions stationed in the area. The commander of the battalions verified the incident, stating, “Our military has taken them into custody and is currently investigating them.”

This incident comes amid troubling reports from Maktoob News in India, which revealed that on May 8, Indian authorities forcibly expelled over 43 Rohingya—many of them women and children—into international waters near Myanmar. It remains unclear whether the group that arrived in Dawei is the same as the one expelled by India.

The landing site is located near the proposed Dawei Special Economic Zone (SEZ), a high-security area currently under development with Russian investment. Despite constant naval presence and heightened surveillance in the region, the vessel was able to reach shore—raising questions about the circumstances and motivations behind its passage.

A resident from Yebyu township remarked, “There are always navy ships in the sea here. Security has become even tighter recently. It is surprising that the boat managed to make it to shore.”

This latest development highlights the ongoing crisis faced by the stateless Rohingya, who continue to face violent displacement, regional pushbacks, and systematic denial of refuge.

Rohingya Vision News