Arakan Army/United League of Arakan (AA/ULA) begins selling confiscated Rohingya properties in Maungdaw.
It has been reported that the Arakan Army/United League of Arakan (AA/ULA), has begun selling properties confiscated from Rohingya residents in Maungdaw Township, Arakan State, Myanmar.
According to local sources, since 1st August, the Arakan Army/ United League of Arakan (AA/ULA) has initiated the sale of seized belongings, including motorcycles, solar panels, engines, and other personal property originally owned by Rohingya civilians.
Members of the Arakan Army/United League of Arakan (AA/ULA) have started selling motorcycles that were taken from Rohingya individuals. High-quality motorcycles valued at around 100 lakh kyats are reportedly being sold for 60–70 lakh kyats. W100 motorbikes are being sold for approximately 30 lakh kyats, while Chinese-made motorbikes are priced at nearly 20 lakh kyats.
A resident of Maungdaw told Wsnews24, “Motorcycles, solar panels, engines, batteries, and other materials seized by the Arakan Army/ United League of Arakan (AA/ULA) are now being sold. All of these items originally belonged to Rohingya people. The sales are not only happening in downtown Maungdaw but also in the northern and southern parts of the township.”
He further added, “What’s surprising is that these items are being sold back to the Rohingya community, even though they originally belonged to them. The reason behind this sale remains unclear, but it is believed that the Arakan Army/ United League of Arakan (AA/ULA) may be selling off confiscated goods in anticipation of the Military junta’s attempt to retake control of Maungdaw and surrounding areas.”
During their control over Maungdaw, the Arakan Army/United League of Arakan (AA/ULA) reportedly carried out forced evictions of Rohingya villagers. Many were displaced with nothing but the clothes they were wearing, leaving behind all their belongings. Those possessions were subsequently seized and are now being sold to their original owners or to others.
This action may constitute a war crime under international law, as it involves systematic looting, arbitrary seizure of civilian property, and forced displacement—acts prohibited under the Geneva Conventions.
This practice—seizing civilian property during conflict and then commercializing it—violates international humanitarian law (IHL), particularly Article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibits pillage, and Article 8(2)(e)(v) of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, which defines pillaging as a war crime in non-international armed conflicts.
The Arakan Army/United League of Arakan’s conduct in Maungdaw—including the sale of confiscated civilian goods, forced displacements, and ethnic persecution—may amount to war crimes under international law. These actions should be thoroughly investigated by independent bodies, and the perpetrators must be held accountable to ensure justice for the victims.
