Maungdaw's Muslim council condemns ARSA and RSO activities

By Admin 27 Oct 2025

DMG Newsroom

27 October 2025, Maungdaw

The Maungdaw District Muslim Affairs Council issued a statement on 25 October condemning the arrests, torture, and killings of local residents in Maungdaw District, Arakan State, by the Muslim armed groups Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) and Rohingya Solidarity Organization (RSO), which threaten peace, stability, and the rule of law in the region.

The Council noted that since the United League of Arakan/Arakan Army (ULA/AA) took control of Maungdaw District, the situation in the region has become significantly more peaceful. Local Muslims have seen improvements in religion, education, health, and tourism.

The Council highlighted that Muslims are now allowed to serve in ULA departments, and Muslim elders can form juries to handle religious and traditional matters-developments welcomed by the local community.

"We were also oppressed in education during Myanmar's previous regime. Muslims were not allowed to study at medical and engineering universities even if they had good matriculation results. We were restricted from attending higher education institutions because we were not considered Burmese citizens. Now, we have hope and no longer expect such racial discrimination in this region," Jury Baser, Muslim administrative advisor for Maungdaw District, told DMG.

According to the Council, these developments have contributed to social harmony between Arakanese and Muslims, allowing them to live together peacefully.

However, the statement warned that despite the region's relative peace and stability, frequent arrests, torture, and killings by ARSA and RSO continue to threaten the rule of law.

ARSA abducted three locals, including a young woman herding cattle at the foot of Mayu Mountain near Kin Chaung Village in Maungdaw Township on 24 October; they remain missing.

On 22 October, ARSA ambushed a vehicle transporting goods and passengers from Cedipyin Village in Rathedaung Township to Kyaukpandu Village in Maungdaw Township, killing two women and wounding two men.

"We don't support ARSA and RSO because they torture locals, make arrests, and harass people on the streets," said Konor Maw Htay, a resident of 4th-Mile Ward, Maungdaw Township, in an interview with DMG.

The Council also criticized some foreign organizations, such as Fortify Rights, for allegedly ignoring the voices of peaceful communities and focusing instead on biased reports based on information from terrorist groups.

It noted that these actions have heightened distrust between Muslims and Arakanese and hindered the development of social harmony.

According to DMG data, at least 40 civilians have been killed and 20 injured in ARSA attacks in Buthidaung and Maungdaw Townships over the past six months.

The Arakan Army has warned that ARSA and RSO threaten the lives and property of civilians in the Arakan-Bangladesh border area. Residents are advised to avoid traveling alone or in small groups in the mountains and remote areas. If travel is urgent, they should report to the nearest ULA/AA administrative or security forces.