In Sittwe Township, Rakhine State, the Junta is withholding aid funds from international organizations meant for Rohingya refugees, pressuring them into military training as the sole avenue to access these resources.
Each Muslim refugee in Sittwe has been receiving 42,000 MMK per month from aid organizations.
The Junta troops visited the refugee camps, notifying Muslim residents that the distribution of funds would continue only if at least one member of each refugee family attends military training, commencing this month.
“It means that the Junta troops threatened to cease distributing international aid if we refuse to serve in the military. Some are concerned they will not receive the aid quota anymore and have already enlisted for military training”, a refugee woman from Thet Kei Pyin camp in Sittwe, who did not want to be named told DMG.
In May, the Junta recruited 15 Muslims from each refugee camp, including Bu May, Thae Chaung, Bar Sar, Dar Pai, Thet Kei Pyin, and Ohn Taw Gyi, in Sittwe Township for military training.
Due to the Junta's harsh blockades, restricted access to healthcare and aid from international organizations, and limited job opportunities resulting in financial strain, the refugees were powerless to resist the Junta's coercion.
Muslim refugees reported that only families with members undergoing military training, as desired by the Junta, continue to receive the monthly aid of 42,000 MMK per person supported by international organizations.
"Last weekend, the Junta distributed the first batch of aid funds for 50 people. But many refugees have not gotten their aid for this month yet. When the Junta threatened to withhold aid unless we underwent military training, we had no choice but to comply”, a Muslim refugee said.
Muslim refugees in Sittwe primarily rely on support from international aid organizations such as the World Food Program (WFP), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Save the Children, and Doctors Without Borders/ Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).
An NGO employee noted that these aid organizations can only conduct humanitarian missions with the Junta's approval. "I heard that aid missions conducted in the areas controlled by the Junta often need to wait a long time to get its approval and hand over all aid funds to the regime authorities.”
There are also allegations that the Junta, struggling with a series of military setbacks in Rakhine State, is deviously utilizing the international aid funds at its disposal as a coercive tool to replenish its dwindling manpower.
During the first three months of this year, thousands of Muslims in Sittwe were also forcibly summoned by the Junta to undergo military training.
These Muslims are now deployed in various military posts after completing a 14-day training at the Regional Operations Commands (ROC) in Sittwe. The Junta also dangled promises of a certain level of authority and incentives sweeten the deal.
DMG reached out to the Junta's spokesperson, Major General Zaw Min Tun, and U Hlan Thein,the Junta's Rakhine State spokesperson, but did not receive any response.
A Rakhine political analyst noted "With the Junta facing resounding military defeats across Rakhine State due to ongoing attacks by the Arakha Army (AA), it is turning to Muslims to strengthen its dwindling military might. The regime is exploiting the Muslim population to replenish its ranks, resorting to threats and rewards as needed.”
The Rohingya refugees in Sittwe are those who fled their homes and have sought shelter in camps since the conflicts erupted in Rakhine State in 2012.
