Arakan News Agency
Local sources in Maungdaw town, Arakan State, report growing pressure on Rohingya residents by Arakan militias to force them into military service, with threats of deportation to Bangladesh targeting those who refuse recruitment.
According to the sources, a meeting was recently held at the Maungdaw township administration office, attended by representatives of different ethnic and religious communities. During the meeting, authorities announced the formation of what they called a multi-faith Community Defense Force (VDF).
The township administrator stated during the meeting that joining the force would be “voluntary” and not compulsory, promising military training for those who choose to enlist، According to the “Mongdu Daily News” website
However, Rohingya residents say the situation on the ground sharply contradicts these claims. They report that direct pressure has been exerted on Rohingya communities by individuals linked to Arakan militias, particularly after many Rohingya refused to join their ranks.
Sources said the recruitment campaign effectively began on 21 December in several neighborhoods of Maungdaw, starting in East Myoma Ward.
Residents stated that the ward administrator, U Saw Tun Wai, also known as Bawsar, summoned Rohingya community elders to his office and demanded that five men from each ward, under the age of 50, be provided for military service. They were reportedly forced to make an immediate decision.
According to testimonies from those present, participants were threatened with being prevented from leaving the meeting unless the required names were submitted. Officials also demanded the handover of household registration documents issued by Arakan militia authorities.
Ultimately, some wards were compelled to select five men, including married individuals, people suffering from chronic illnesses such as asthma and pneumonia, sole breadwinners for their families, and fathers of infants.
Residents said their appeals for exemptions on humanitarian and social grounds were rejected, despite filing complaints directly with the ward administrator. They described the actions as a clear abuse of authority and a serious violation of human rights.
A local source further accused the ward administrator of holding extreme discriminatory views against Rohingya and using derogatory language toward them, warning that his continued role undermines any claims of social harmony or coexistence.
These developments have heightened fear within the Rohingya community in Maungdaw, as concerns grow over forced recruitment policies and accompanying threats of deportation or punishment, amid already fragile humanitarian and security conditions.
Local activists warned that the continuation of such practices could further inflame communal tensions and undermine any prospects for stability or reconciliation in northern Arakan State. They called for an immediate halt to all forms of coercion and for the protection of civilians and their fundamental rights.
