Rakhine State residents face peril as Myanmar's military forcibly conscripts Rohingya men from villages and internally displaced persons (IDP) camps, raising fears of their use as human shields.
Initial reports indicate that over 400 Rohingya men from villages and IDP camps were compelled to undergo two weeks of basic military training, raising concerns about their exploitation as human shields by the junta's forces.
Nay San Lwin, co-founder of the Free Rohingya Coalition, expressed alarm over the situation, noting that the short training period suggests the military's intention to use these individuals as human shields rather than as effective combatants.
The forced recruitment follows Myanmar's enforcement of its conscription law on February 10, with Rohingya community leaders coerced into compiling lists of eligible men aged 18 to 35. Despite the Rohingya not being recognized as citizens, they are being pressurized into military service with promises of rice, citizenship cards, and a monthly salary.
Sittwe, the capital of Rakhine State, hosts numerous IDP camps, with approximately 300 Rohingya men already drafted into military training from these camps, and plans for further conscription underway.
The situation has sparked widespread anxiety among Rohingya communities, with many fearing the imminent conscription of their loved ones and themselves. The Rohingya population, having endured displacement and violence, now faces further threats to their safety and security.
International pressure is mounting on Myanmar's military junta to cease its human rights violations and atrocities, with calls for neighboring countries and ASEAN to take decisive action.
Meanwhile, the Arakan Army, one of the ethnic armed groups operating in Rakhine State, continues to inflict significant losses on the junta's forces, underscoring the military's vulnerability in the region. Some Rohingya individuals, like Ko Tun, express a willingness to join the Arakan Army to resist the junta's oppression rather than serve as its instruments.
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