Arakan News Agency
Local sources in Buthidaung, Arakan State, reported that the Buddhist Arakan militias (Arakan Army) have established a new settlement for the Rakhine community in Sin Oe Pyin village, which was previously inhabited by Rohingya communities, and have armed the newly settled families.
According to Arakan Now on Tuesday, more than 100 Rakhine households have been resettled in the village over the past weeks, with Rohingya no longer allowed to pass through the village since the settlers were armed.
The sources added that these restrictions have blocked the main routes long used by Rohingya to move between villages and access nearby areas, forcing them to use a newly constructed alternative road that is longer and more difficult.
The situation has raised serious concerns among the Rohingya communities still living near the village, who fear insecurity, additional restrictions on their daily lives, and further limitations on their freedom of movement and access to essential services and neighboring areas.
Buddhist separatist Arakan militias have continued violations against Rohingya in Buthidaung since taking control of the city in May 2024, including preventing Rohingya from returning to their homes in 34 villages despite no active fighting in those areas. At the same time, they began constructing new villages for Rakhine settlers on land formerly inhabited by Rohingya.
The Arakan militias launched a military campaign in November 2023 against the Myanmar army to control the state and managed to capture 14 out of 17 towns. The conflict has severely affected the Rohingya, who have faced violence, forced displacement, and persecution from both sides, following the 2017 “genocide” campaign by the Myanmar military that forced nearly one million Rohingya to flee to Bangladesh.
