Arakan News Agency | Exclusive
The Arakan Army, controlling Arakan state in western Myanmar, has issued instructions to the Rohingya in the city of Maungdaw requiring them to obtain travel permits if they wish to move from one place to another and to report in advance if they wish to stay overnight outside their areas.
A correspondent from Arakan News Agency reported that the Arakan Army announced its instructions during a meeting held on Tuesday with several city residents. A community leader who attended the meeting said, “The new battalion commander in the Arakan Army instructed us during a meeting in the village of ‘Pyin Phyu’ that we must carry a permit from the Arakan Army if we want to travel, and we must personally inform the relevant village administration if we wish to stay overnight,” adding that there were threats of taking actions against violators.
He added that even in medical emergencies that necessitate the patient traveling to Bangladesh for treatment, this will not be allowed unless authorized by the Arakan Army authorities. Generally, only emergency patients will be allowed to cross the border for treatment.
Arakan Army commander “Du Lay” stated during the meeting that the border with Bangladesh remains completely closed to all crossing attempts for security reasons, as reported by one of the attendees to the Arakan News Agency.
The Arakan border with Bangladesh has been completely shut down, and instructions have been given to border posts to fire immediately at anyone caught attempting to cross from the Bangladeshi side. Recent days have “witnessed” the closure of the border by the Arakan Army and the reinforcement of its military presence in northern Maungdaw by sending additional forces, heavy weapons, ammunition, and drones.
The Arakan Army also recently issued a decision to prevent the residents of Rohingya villages surrounding the city from entering it without obtaining an official letter from the regional army officials. The Arakan Army “imposes” “strict” restrictions on Rohingya movements in Maungdaw and imposes financial penalties on violators.
The Arakan Army launched a military campaign in November 2023 against the Myanmar Army to seize control of the state, successfully taking control of 14 out of 17 towns. This conflict has engulfed the Rohingya in violence, forced displacement, and persecution by both sides, following a campaign of “genocide” by the Myanmar Army in 2017 that led nearly a million of them to flee to Bangladesh.
