The Rohingya population in Myanmar's Rakhine State has long been subjected to severe persecution, but a new wave of violence has emerged in 2024 with the Arakan Army (AA) playing a central role. Under the guise of battling the Myanmar military, the AA has reportedly committed extensive crimes against humanity, displacing, killing, and terrorizing the already vulnerable Rohingya community. The latest developments in the Rohingya crisis paint a grim picture, as targeted violence continues to erode their basic rights and dignity.
Forced Displacement and Massacres
Since the last week of March 2024, a staggering 1,200 to 1,500 Rohingya have reportedly been killed by the Arakan Army, signaling a dramatic escalation in violence. One of the most disturbing tactics is the widespread forced displacement of Rohingya from their homes. On May 6, 2024, nearly 7,000 villagers in Northern Maungdaw Township were forced to flee after heavy fight between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army. Despite the cessation of the fight, the AA has prevented these civilians from returning to their homes, maintaining a stranglehold on the territory and firing into the air to deter any attempts to return.
The AA's campaign of terror has been particularly ruthless in Maungdaw and Buthidaung townships. In May 2024, Rohingya families in these regions were forced to leave their homes under the threat of violence. The AA's systematic displacement of civilians not only uproots communities but also exacerbates their vulnerability, leaving them without access to basic resources or shelter.
The AA's campaign appears coordinated, with multiple instances of villages being set on fire. On May 17, 2024, for instance, 35 villages in Buthidaung were torched by the AA, forcing around 100,000 Rohingya to flee. The use of arson, along with artillery shelling and drone attacks, is part of a larger strategy to terrorize the Rohingya into leaving their ancestral lands.
Targeting Rohingya Youth and Civilians
A particularly troubling aspect of the AA's actions has been the abduction and targeting of Rohingya youth. Reports indicate that the AA has arrested and detained educated Rohingya men from Buthidaung and Maungdaw townships, with some of the abductees found dead just days after their capture. On April 17, 2024, five Rohingya civilians were abducted from Maungdaw, only their bodies were discovered shortly afterward. Similar incidents have been documented in other townships, with civilians being taken from their homes or places of worship, sometimes during prayers.
Such actions underscore the Arakan Army's systematic approach to decimating the future of the Rohingya by targeting its younger, educated members. Abductions and killings have been used as a means to destabilize the community, leaving families traumatized and communities fractured.
Indiscriminate Killings and Drone Attacks
The AA’s use of advanced military tactics, including drone strikes and artillery shelling, has resulted in widespread civilian casualties. Since April 2024, reports of artillery shells landing in Rohingya villages have been frequent. For instance, on April 6, 2024, artillery fire hit Habi West Rohingya hamlet, killing six civilians, including two children. Such incidents have left families devastated and entire communities living in constant fear.
Drone attacks have further amplified the level of violence. On July 30, 2024, drone strikes killed two Rohingya in Ward 5 of Maungdaw Township. One of the most egregious instances occurred on May 17, 2024, when drone attacks in Tat Min Chaung village killed an estimated 150 to 250 people. These incidents demonstrate the AA’s increasing reliance on technology to carry out targeted killings, a method that leaves civilians with little chance of escaping the violence.
The psychological impact of this violence on survivors is profound. Villagers are often forced to witness the deaths of their loved ones or flee their homes in terror, only to be blocked by AA forces. Such actions highlight the AA's intent to maintain its control over these territories by any means necessary.
Denial of Fundamental Rights
In addition to the violence, the AA has been systematically denying Rohingya basic rights, including freedom of movement and access to food. In June 2024, approximately 5,000 Rohingya in Ward-5, Buthidaung, were trapped without access to food or essential supplies for over a month, leading to the deaths of at least 10 children due to diarrhea. The blockade of entire communities and the refusal to allow humanitarian aid underscores the AA’s complete disregard for international law and human rights.
The Arakan Army’s actions against the Rohingya represent a calculated campaign of ethnic violence and systematic persecution. From mass killings and forced displacement to the abduction of youth and indiscriminate drone strikes, the AA’s brutality shows no signs of abating. The international community must urgently address this escalating humanitarian crisis to prevent further atrocities. While the AA justifies its actions under the pretext of fighting the Myanmar military, the toll on the civilian Rohingya population has been catastrophic, and their suffering must not be ignored.
As Myanmar’s conflict deepens, the Rohingya continue to face an existential threat, caught between the military's brutality and the Arakan Army's ruthless campaign for control of Rakhine State. The Rohingya need immediate international attention and protection, as their plight grows increasingly desperate with each passing day, experts remarked.
BOB Post
