Rohingya residents in northern Maungdaw are reporting growing pressure to participate in daily labor activities ordered by the Arakan Army (AA), including forest clearing and guard duties, with involvement extending to children and elderly family members.
According to community members in Pyin Phyu (Region 6) and Phodhari (Region 10), several villages—such as Hla Baw Za, Paung Za, Mingalar Gyi, Kyauk Hlay Kha, and Pyin Phyu—are experiencing systematic labor mobilization, where roughly 50 residents from each village are called upon daily to clear land and assist with other physical tasks from morning until evening.
Residents say the pattern has been consistent for weeks, and villagers are required to rotate daily, leading to approximately 250 people working from the five villages combined. Refusal to join reportedly leads to financial penalties ranging from 10,000 to 20,000 kyats, a burden too heavy for many families already living with limited resources.
“This has become a daily routine,” said a man from Kyauk Hlay Kha. “We are sent to work in the forests from morning until late afternoon. Those without adult men at home—especially widowed or female-led families—often have to send young boys or elderly persons.”
Villagers must carry their own food and water, as no assistance is provided during the workday. Some have shared that after returning from long hours of labor, they are often asked to perform night guard duties, adding to their physical and emotional exhaustion.
“We are working by day and guarding by night,” said one resident. “It feels like we have no rest and no choice.”
Local accounts also recall earlier periods—from February to May—when many were reportedly made to work on stone-paved roads near the AA’s Kyikanpyin base.
Community members and observers have voiced concern over the physical toll this is taking on vulnerable individuals, particularly minors and the elderly. Rights groups have previously raised alarms about the use of labor by armed groups in conflict zones, especially when such activities are carried out under pressure or threat of penalty.
As conflict between the Arakan Army and the Myanmar military continues across Rakhine State, Rohingya civilians—already facing displacement and restricted movement—find themselves burdened with additional pressures and forced duties in areas under armed control.
Humanitarian voices continue to call for the protection of all civilians and the upholding of basic rights and dignity, regardless of location or political control.
