Residents of Kintaung Village in Buthidaung Township, Rakhine State, report that the Arakan Army (AA) has seized more than 120 acres of farmland and nearly 12 acres of cemetery land. According to villagers, the land confiscations began in April 2025 and have continued up to the present.
The seized areas include paddy fields traditionally cultivated by Rohingya farmers, as well as a cemetery that the local community has used for many years. Villagers say they are not permitted to cultivate the confiscated farmland or other unused land. Although the AA reportedly allows cattle and buffalo to graze on the land, owners must pay a fee of 10,000 kyats per animal.
Rice cultivation is the primary source of income and food for village families, and the confiscation of farmland has severely impacted their livelihoods. The seizure of cemetery land has also caused serious concern among residents, as it obstructs traditional burial practices and deeply affects the community’s religious and cultural customs, locals say.
