Residents of the villages within Buthidaung and Maungdaw townships, located near the border between Bangladesh and Rakhine State, have reported a significant increase in the activities of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) in recent days.
Concerns have arisen among residents of Maungdaw District as members of ARSA are frequently seen openly moving through their villages, whether they are armed or unarmed.
"On August 31st, we observed ARSA members with weapons heading toward Thapeikchaung village. In some villages, we frequently see them unarmed. We hope that their actions won't harm the locals”, a Kyarnyopyin villager from Buthidaung Township, who declined to be named for security reasons told DMG.
Myanmar authorities have designated ARSA as a terrorist organization due to their involvement in the mass killings of Hindu communities in Maungdaw. Additionally, ARSA's reputation has suffered, and it has experienced a decline in support among Muslims due to the misbehavior and criminal activities of its members while seeking refuge in camps located in Bangladesh.
On August 25th, the 6th anniversary of Genocide Remembrance Day was commemorated by Muslim refugees who had fled to Bangladesh. Subsequently, there was an increase in the noticeable activities of ARSA in the Maungdaw area.
"Nowadays, ARSA members staying in our villages for a few days or briefly entering them before leaving has become a common occurrence. Villagers are certainly scared, and women are too afraid to venture out of their homes when they are around”, an inhabitant of Phonenyoleik village in Buthidaung Township said.
On August 30th, ARSA members dispersed quickly as Military Council troops arrived and deployed following reports of their gathering near Theintaung village in Buthidaung, a witness told DMG.
"ARSAs fled towards Thapeiktaung when the Myanmar Military closed off Theintaung area due to reports of their presence. Currently, ARSAs are active around Thapeiktaung village once again”, he said.
At present, ARSA assembles groups of approximately 20 to 30 members who roam the nearby villages, prompting local residents to temporarily move elsewhere out of fear for their safety.
“We are residents of Nganchaung, a Muslim village. After ARSA members came and stayed in our village for several days, our entire family relocated to Buthidaung due to security concerns”, a villager who temporarily migrated to downtown Buthidaung said.
On the evening of August 12th, on the road between Launglon and Kyeinchaung villages in northern Maungdaw, over 20 ARSA members ignited a passenger car and kidnapped two Muslim villagers from Sabaikone.
In the Military Council-controlled villages of Buthidaung and Maungdaw, ARSA members' bold activities have raised concerns among the locals, prompting politicians to call for urgent intervention.
"After August 25th, ARSA's presence became more noticeable. Additionally, there is an ongoing process of submitting an appeal and a defense statement to the International Court of Justice in the coming days. Recently, there have been reports of ARSA organizing local communities and holding rallies. In some Muslim villages, residents have been threatened against contacting the ULA/AA (United League of Arakan, Arakan Army). As a result, it is the responsibility of the Military Council to safeguard the people’s security and address these ongoing threats to the local population”, said U Aung Thaung Shwe, a former MP from Buthidaung told DMG.
On July 18th and 19th, clashes occurred between ARSA and AA forces in the vicinity of the Mayu mountain range, near the villages of Seinnyinpya, Arkarpyan, and Kyauksartaing within Gutarpyin village tract of Buthidaung Township.
In Maungdaw District, situated near the Myanmar-Bangladesh border, various armed groups are operating, including the Military Council, AA, as well as Muslim factions like ARSA, the Rohingya Solidarity Organization (RSO), and smaller splinter groups that have emerged from ARSA.
