Rohingya Villages Set Ablaze by AA in Maungdaw Township

December 17, 2024 – Maungdaw, Arakan State: The Arakan Army (AA) has been accused of deliberately burning down Rohingya villages and wards in Maungdaw Township, further exacerbating the ongoing persecution of the Rohingya community in Arakan State, Myanmar.

The incident occurred on December 17 at around 1:00 PM when Rohingya homes and buildings in Maung Ni Rwa, Pey Zi Rwa, Ali Rwa, and Ward No. 02 in Maungdaw downtown were intentionally set ablaze by the AA. According to witnesses, the fire continued to rage until the evening, leaving significant destruction in its wake.

A source revealed, “The houses and buildings belonging to the Rohingyas were set on fire one by one, and the fire was intentionally started by the Arakan Army (AA).” The source emphasized that no other armed groups were present in the area, and there were no reports of clashes at the time, suggesting the attack was a calculated act under the guise of conflict.

A local resident described the motive behind the arson, stating, “They are deliberately burning the houses and buildings because they don’t want to allow the Rohingyas to remain in their original villages and wards. They aim to make the downtown area a Rohingya-free zone.”

Reports also indicate that the AA has imposed a strict curfew on Rohingya villages in northern Maungdaw Township, restricting movement from 6:00 PM to 6:00 AM.

In a related incident, the Co-Founder of Free Rohingya Coalition reported that hundreds of Rohingya homes in Ward 4 of Buthidaung Township were also torched by the Arakan Army around 2:00 PM. The AA has maintained control over this area since mid-May, raising concerns over their continued targeting of Rohingya communities.

The systematic destruction of Rohingya villages and the enforcement of curfews highlight the ongoing efforts to displace the Rohingya from their ancestral lands, leaving the community in a state of fear and vulnerability.

Rohingya Vision News