Arakan News Agency
Rohingya travelers have reported being subjected to financial extortion at Sittwe Airport in Arakan State, where they are allegedly forced to pay illegal fees at multiple checkpoints before being allowed to board flights to Yangon, despite holding valid travel documents.
Several travelers told local media that the first demand for money occurs at the entrance to the airport’s administrative building, where they are reportedly asked to pay around 10,000 Myanmar kyats, allegedly by police officers. At the next security checkpoint, travelers are required to pay an additional 5,000 kyats to proceed.
“We are already exhausted before even reaching the plane,” one Rohingya traveler said. “At every gate, someone asks for money. If we refuse, they delay us or threaten not to let us travel.”
According to testimonies shared with Rohingya Khobor, the demands continue at the registration counters, where officers reportedly collect another 5,000 kyats from each passenger. In addition, some administrative staff are said to demand between 20,000 and 30,000 kyats, depending on the individual’s situation.
One passenger said all required documents were properly prepared and legally valid, yet money was demanded at every stage of the process, making movement inside the airport extremely difficult without paying.
Despite these alleged practices, travelers said they were eventually allowed to board flights to Yangon and faced no problems upon arrival, as their documentation was in order.
Another Rohingya passenger said that despite traveling legally, Rohingya are treated with suspicion and constant pressure, adding that the imposed financial burdens are deeply painful for poor families struggling to meet their basic needs.
Rohingya families say these unofficial payments place a heavy financial burden on travelers who already live under severe restrictions and harsh economic conditions, calling for an end to such practices and for safe and fair travel without fear, harassment, or bribery.
The allegations come amid long-standing restrictions on Rohingya movement within Arakan State, where many are denied freedom of travel without special permits, even when holding official documents. Rohingya continue to face administrative and security barriers at ports, airports, and checkpoints, making domestic travel complex and costly.
Sittwe has been frequently cited in complaints of discriminatory treatment and financial extortion against Rohingya, reflecting broader restrictive policies enforced by authorities in Myanmar. As economic conditions worsen and livelihoods remain limited, such practices add to the hardship of families who rely on travel for medical, educational, and survival needs, prompting renewed calls for an end to abuses and the protection of freedom of movement without exploitation.
