In Maungdaw Township, several village and ward administrators appointed by the Arakan Army (AA) are allegedly involved in bias, misconduct, and abuse of power, according to local Rohingya communities.
Community members claim that many of the Muslim administrators currently appointed by the United League of Arakan/Arakan Army (ULA/AA) have long-standing ties with past regimes, including the Myanmar military junta and successive governments.
Locals report that some of those given administrative responsibilities by the AA are known informants or people previously involved in the illegal trade of WY methamphetamine tablets, and in some cases, are even fugitives.
The appointments, they say, were not made based on community consensus or public will, but rather involved individuals closely aligned with the AA leadership.
In U Shay Kya village, AA-appointed administrators such as Abu and Moti Rahman are said to have previously collaborated with military officials under the former junta, acting as intermediaries or informants. Moti Rahman, in particular, is alleged to have worked as a border informant since the era of the former military governments (NaWaTa and NaAhPha), and is now reportedly exploiting his position under the AA regime.
According to residents of U Shay Kya, Moti Rahman is currently attempting to confiscate local farmlands using various tactics. Reports indicate that he and Abu are targeting the farmland of individuals such as Maulawi Sadik (16 acres), Amir Hakim’s family (about 15 acres), and Rojiyullah (around 2 acres), even going as far as to destroy their homes.
In the Shwe Zar village tract, three AA-appointed administrators—Mamat Sadik, Abu Kalam, and Dwil Lla—are also being accused of exploiting local Rohingya residents. Locals told AEN that these individuals are abusing their positions and extracting profit from the community.
These three are alleged to have misappropriated humanitarian aid and monetary donations intended for the local population. Households reportedly do not receive the full amount of aid provided. In addition, when the AA donated cattle for the Eid al-Adha sacrifice (Qurbani), these same individuals not only took control of the animals but also collected forced donations from the local Rohingya community in Maungdaw for the same purpose.
A Rohingya schoolteacher in Maungdaw commented, “The ULA/AA should appoint only individuals with integrity and moral character—those who are respected by the local population. Appointments must take the community’s voice into account. Many of the current appointees are known criminals or morally compromised, and a review is necessary.”
A former member of a local community organization in Maungdaw also weighed in, saying, “The ULA/AA’s intention to appoint Muslim administrative bodies was to gain support from Muslims and to demonstrate inclusiveness. I support the principle. It’s the right thing to do. But many of the people appointed are those who served under the military junta or have long histories of involvement with informant networks and the drug trade. As a result, the administrative system is not functioning properly and is in danger of leading to even worse outcomes. The ULA/AA leadership needs to urgently review what is happening at the grassroots level.”
The Arakan Express News
