The Arakan Army (AA) is secretly attempting to incite a new wave of ethnic and religious conflict in Maungdaw Township, according to reports from members of the Rohingya community who say they are living under fear and persecution.
Locals told wsnews24.com that the AA is exploiting existing tensions between communities, much like the Myanmar military junta has done in the past. During recent clashes between the junta and the AA, the Myanmar military reportedly forced Rohingya youths to serve as soldiers and fight against the AA. At the same time, allegations have circulated that a Rakhine woman was sexually assaulted by a Myanmar soldier, but the blame was falsely placed on Rohingya men — fueling mistrust and hostility between the two groups.
On the evening of October 11, a group of Rakhine residents in Bo Mhu Village of Maungdaw reportedly accused Rohingya residents of being “members of terrorist organizations” and shouted threats such as “We will kill all the Kala [a racial slur for Muslims]; we’ll turn the border area into a graveyard.” A local eyewitness confirmed the incident to wsnews24.com.
Sources further said that in Maungdaw town’s Jamae area — now under AA’s control — the group has taken over financial and administrative functions while deliberately sowing divisions among the Rohingya population. Political analysts believe the AA is exploiting a past incident in Bo Mhu Village, where a Rakhine woman was allegedly sexually assaulted by junta soldiers, to stir up new ethnic and religious hatred.
Currently, Rohingya communities living under AA-controlled areas are said to be in constant fear. They are being accused of being “terrorists,” leading to growing hatred and retaliatory sentiment. Locals, expressing deep concern for their safety, have appealed to the international community for protection and assistance, according to reports received by wsnews24.com.
