Residents’ livelihoods impacted by threat of ARSA in Maungdaw District

By Admin 04 Oct 2023

DMG Newsroom
4 October 2023, Maungdaw

Residents of Arakan State’s Maungdaw District whose livelihoods are dependent on local forests are reportedly facing hardship due to the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA).

The majority of rural communities in Maungdaw engage in farming and fishing and collect firewood, bamboo and other forest products to earn a living. Local residents fear they might be killed or abducted by ARSA members while in the forests.

“Many residents in our village are dependent on forests to make a living. We don’t go into the forest when we hear reports about the ARSA’s presence,” said U Kan Gyi Aung, who is in charge of Thiho Aye (Mro) Village in Maungdaw.

On August 12, two Muslim villagers were abducted by ARSA troops while driving to Kyein Chaung Village. The ARSA members also set fire to their vehicle, residents said.

ARSA members also abducted a community elder in Meechaungkaungswe Village, Buthidaung Township, on September 9. His dead body was discovered the following day.

Residents now live in fear, said a man from Ngan Chaung (Muslim) Village in Maungdaw Township.

“We are dependent on the forests and mountains to feed ourselves. We are concerned that we might be abducted and kidnapped by ARSA,” he said.

U Maung Hla Maung from Thiho Aye (Mro) Village said: “We have no choice, and have to go to mountains when there is nothing left to eat. But we don’t go to the mountains every day like we did before. We are concerned that we might run across ARSA. We are going hungry as we can’t go to the mountains daily.”

Local politicians have called on Myanmar’s military regime to deal with ARSA members who are active in areas controlled by the junta.

“There were people who were killed by ARSA while going into the forest. So, people are frightened by the presence of ARSA. Local residents do not feel safe,” said a former lawmaker for Buthidaung Township, U Aung Thaung Shwe.

ARSA is active in Rathedaung and Buthidaung townships, and in the Mayu mountains of the larger Maungdaw District, including along the border with Bangladesh. Apart from the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army, Muslim armed organisations such as ARSA, the Rohingya Solidarity Organization and ARSA splinter groups are all known to be active in Maungdaw District.