The Arakan Army/United League of Arakan (AA/ULA) has reportedly been extorting money from Rohingya businesspeople in Maungdaw Township, Arakan State, Myanmar. According to information obtained by wsnews24.com through local sources, the AA/ULA summoned Rohingya businesspeople to its headquarters in Gyi Ken Pyin village, located in northern Maungdaw, and demanded large sums of money under the pretext of supporting their activities.
On the morning of August 16, 2025, twelve Rohingya businesspeople from Kyauk Hle Kar, Minglar Gyi, and Paung Zar villages were summoned to the AA/ULA headquarters in Gyi Ken Pyin. The meeting was arranged on the direct orders of the AA/ULA commanding officer based in the area, who instructed village administrators to ensure the attendance of the businessmen.
During the meeting, the commanding officer of the AA/ULA declared that the group required funds to carry out its operations, insisting that Rohingya people must “contribute as much as they can” and pool resources collectively. The twelve businessmen were reportedly ordered to pay a staggering 1,000 lakhs kyats (approximately 100 million kyats), an amount framed as mandatory “support” for the group’s activities.
Local sources confirmed to wsnews24.com that this collection was not voluntary but enforced through coercion, with the AA/ULA using intimidation tactics to compel compliance. In recent weeks, the AA/ULA has also held multiple meetings with Rohingya communities, pressing them to support the group, threatening them not to align with any Rohingya armed organizations, and ordering them to provide financial contributions.
The forced fundraising has heightened fears among Rohingya civilians, who already face severe restrictions, economic hardship, and insecurity in the conflict-affected region.
