200 Rohingyas Massacred by Arakan Army in Bangladesh-Myanmar Border

By Legal Wires 6 Minutes Read

Rohingya activists and local media are reporting severe and inhumane attacks on Rohingya civilians in Maungdaw, a town near the Bangladesh border. The Arakan Army (AA), a ruthless ethnic armed group, has been committing atrocities against the Rohingya population as it extends its control in the region. These brutal actions are exacerbating the already dire situation faced by the Rohingya, a community that has suffered relentless persecution and violence.

Watch the video on X documenting the massacre.

Emerging Reports of Violence:

• New reports indicate that around 200 Rohingya civilians have been killed by the Arakan Army (AA) in recent days.
  
• The AA has extended its control over Maungdaw, a predominantly Rohingya town close to the Bangladesh border.

Activist and Local Media Claims:

• Wai Wai Nu, a prominent Rohingya activist based at the UC Berkeley School of Law’s Human Rights Center, described the situation as a “deadly catastrophe.”
  
• She reported that “over a hundred” Rohingya have been killed, with many more injured by AA drone strikes.
  
• According to her, Rohingya have been “entirely expelled from downtown Maungdaw” and are trapped along the Naf River.

Local Journalistic Accounts:

• Another Rohingya journalist reported that the AA killed more than 200 Rohingya in Maungdaw, with thousands attempting to flee across the Naf River into Bangladesh.
  
• The AA has been battling for control of Maungdaw for months, having overrun the neighbouring township of Buthidaung in May.

AA’s Advances and Control:

• The AA is the armed wing of the United League of Arakan, seeking an independent Rakhine polity in western Myanmar.
  
• Since a ceasefire collapsed in November, the AA now controls more than half of Rakhine State’s 17 townships.
  
• Reports from The Irrawaddy and Narinjara News indicate that the AA has concentrated its efforts on the last junta battalion in Maungdaw and is using drones against fleeing junta soldiers.

Casualty Reports and Displacement:

• Arakan Express News reported that the AA has been in control of Maungdaw since early yesterday, with at least 150 Rohingya killed and over 500 injured.
  
• The AFP news agency mentioned a boat carrying 29 Rohingya civilians sank in the Naf River, resulting in at least 10 drownings.

Humanitarian Crisis and Historical Context:

• The situation echoes previous atrocities in Rakhine State, such as the arson attacks in Buthidaung in May, which forced tens of thousands to flee.
  
• Independent assessments, like those from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, suggest the AA was responsible for most of the arson in Buthidaung, retaliating against earlier attacks by the military junta and Rohingya militants.
  
• In June, the AA warned Maungdaw residents to evacuate, suggesting those remaining would be considered legitimate targets.

Underlying Causes and Current Scenario:

• The Myanmar military is partly responsible for the Rohingya’s plight, having conducted a genocidal “clearance operation” in August 2017 that displaced over 740,000 Rohingya into Bangladesh.
  
• The military has now allied with Rohingya militant groups and conscripted Rohingya civilians to fight the AA, exploiting lingering sectarian tensions.
  
• The Irrawaddy reported on August 2 that Muslim militia groups, including the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army and Rohingya Solidarity Organization, are collaborating with the regime in Maungdaw.

Conclusion and Future Implications:

• With limited options, many Rohingya are attempting to cross the Naf River into Bangladesh, reminiscent of the 2017 exodus.
  
• The AA’s treatment of Rohingya civilians in Maungdaw and Buthidaung will significantly impact the region’s humanitarian landscape and the Rohingya’s future.

Legal Wires

Team @LegalWires