Arakan News Agency | Exclusive
On August 1st, the Arakan Army began selling property belonging to Rohingya civilians, which had been confiscated during battles to seize control of Maungdaw city in Arakan State, according to eyewitnesses and local residents.
Witnesses from the area told Arakan News Agency that Arakan Army officers and soldiers have been offering motorcycles, solar panels, generators, and batteries for sale at low prices some of which originally belonged to Rohingya individuals who had previously been forcibly displaced from the city.
Motorcycles are reportedly being sold at prices far below market value. For example, the market price of a “Yodaya” motorcycle is around 10 million kyat, but it is currently being sold for 6 to 7 million kyat. Chinese motorcycles are being sold for less than 2 million kyat, and W100 models are going for about 3 million kyat.
Reports indicate that the sales are not limited to the city center, but are also taking place in the northern and southern parts of Maungdaw, amid uncertainty over the reasons behind this move, which coincides with the military council’s preparations for an assault on the city.
In August 2024, the Arakan Army had forced civilians mostly Rohingya to leave their homes under the pretext of military operations, promising to protect their property. However, witnesses confirmed that the forces later looted their homes and transported valuables including cars, electrical appliances, and furniture to other areas such as Buthidaung.
It is estimated that more than 5,000 motorcycles were confiscated from Maungdaw residents, with values ranging between 2 to 10 million kyat. Local sources confirm that all current items offered for sale originally belonged to Rohingya civilians whose property was seized during the conflict.
Since taking control of Maungdaw on December 8, the Arakan Army has continued its violations against the Rohingya, including the closure of homes based on malicious reports, seizure of properties, and displacement of numerous families.
Strict restrictions have also been imposed on the Rohingya, including a ban on movement between villages, enforced through a network of security checkpoints at the entrances and exits of each Rohingya village. Additional fees have been imposed on pedestrians and motorcycle owners in exchange for crossing bridges.
The Arakan Army launched a military campaign in November 2023 against the Myanmar military to take control of the state, succeeding in capturing 14 out of 17 towns. The conflict has severely impacted the Rohingya population, who have faced violence, forced displacement, and persecution from both sides—after already enduring a campaign of “genocide” by the Myanmar military in 2017, which drove nearly one million to flee to Bangladesh.
