Media Release
January 28, 2024
As the fighting between military regime forces and Arakan Army escalates in recent days innocent and unarmed Rohingya have become victims of cross-fire every now and then in North Arakan.
On January 25, regime forces shelled the Rohingya village of Hpon Nyo Lake (Fuimali) some 7 miles south-east of Buthidaung town where AA forces are reportedly camped. Automatic machine gun fire and shelling by heavy weapons have been launched by the regime forces resulting in the total destruction of the village, burning of houses, death of at least 24 civilians, all Rohingyas, and wounding nearly 100 more. Seriously wounded people were shifted to Buthidaung and Maungdaw towns for medical attention many of whom died on the way.
Village elders have been requesting the AA for quite some time not to camp their forces inside the village, but the request had gone unheeded. Many villagers are complaining that it is the deliberate strategy of the AA to put the Muslim Rohingyas in the harms way.
After the AA had swayed the Buthidaung town since the month of December there are reports of murder of Rohingyas by armed Rakhines which AA denied their involvement. Such complaints are also coming out from the townships of Mruak-U (Mrohaung) and Kyauktaw. There are confirmed reports of extortion of Muslim Rohingyas by AA in many towns of north Arakan.
Now both regime forces and AA have become a real threat to the security of lives and property to Muslim Rohingyas. Amid rising cost of living and imposition of blockade and restrictions the lives of Muslim Rohingyas have become suffocating. The Rohingyas are in serious dilemma as to what they should do to save their lives in the future!
The ARNA would like to draw urgent attention of the international community, particularly neighbouring Bangladesh, to undertake appropriate steps to prevent further exodus of Rohingyas to Bangladesh and save the lives of remaining Rohingyas in Arakan as Myanmar is now entering into a very serious uncertain future.
Nurul Islam
Chairman
Arakan Rohingya National Alliance
Media contact: secretariat@thearna.org