What happen in Buthidaung?

Expanding AA's territorial dominance

Since November 13, 2023, repeated clashes between the Arakan Army (AA) and the terrorist military junta have occurred in Rakhine State. During the battles, AA had occupied up to ten townships including Buthidaung, Pauktaw, Minbya, Mrauk U, Kyauktaw, Ponnagyun, Rathedaung, Myebon, Ramree, and even Paletwa township in Chin State, and the fightings also continued in the rest of the townships in the state.

Occupying Buthidaung Township

Starting on February 24th, the AA launched an offensive against the terrorist junta’s military camps in Buthidaung Township, and in the middle of May 18th, the entire township was completely captured.

In Buthidaung Township, the AA captured all of the camps which were up to 11 Light infantry and infantry battalions under the No. 15 Military Operations Command (MOC) of the terrorist military junta, No. 378 (Artillery) Battalion, and No. (3) and (8) Border Guard Police Sub-Division.

A trap of ethnic conflict created by a terrorist military junta

At the beginning of 2024, at a time when the terrorist military junta was losing the battle in the Arakan battle, they did the forced recruitment of Rohingya in refugee camps to create ethnic conflicts, they used some Rohingyas to stage anti-AA protests in Sittwe and Buthidaung towns, which were still under their control. A demonstration was held in Buthidaung on March 19.

During the AA attack on Buthidaung Township, the terrorist military junta forcibly recruited some Rohingya people, provided military training, armed them, and made them participate in battles. In addition, the terrorist military junta also used Rohingya groups such as the ARSA, RSO, and ARA in operations against the AA. Rohingya organizations have stated that these groups did not represent the Rohingya people.

After the No. 536, 537, and 538 battalions under the terrorist military junta based in Rathedaung were attacked and captured on March 20, AA announced that the Rohingya people fought against AA on the side of the terrorist military junta. AA also said that Rohingyas were among the prisoners of war after AA captured the headquarters of the No. 15 Military Operations Command (MOC)  based in Buthidaung on May 6.

On April 12th, when Buthidaung Township was under the control of the terrorist military junta, many houses and buildings owned by Rakhine, Hindus, and other people including the office of Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)  were burnt down. The locals and AA claimed that the arson was carried out by the terrorist military junta, ARSA, RSO, and ARA which they backed, and also the Rohingya who were forcibly recruited. On April 25, AA also released a video recording of the arson incident.

On May 14, a video recording of some Rohingya burning houses in Shwe Yin Aye Rakhine village and Waithali village in Maungdaw township on May 9 emerged.

On May 18, after the AA took control of Buthidaung Township, local Rohingya homes were burned and many Rohingyas were displaced. Before that, there were reports that AA had instructed the residents to move through community elders. Although there are accusations that the AA was responsible for the arson, the AA responded that it was the result of an air strike by a terrorist military junta.

Civil society Organization’s responses

On May 21, the 28 international Rohingya organizations, including the Burmese Rohingya Organization UK (BROUK), stated to call for international pressure on AA to end human rights violations against the Rohingya in Rakhine State, to end forced displacement, and comply with international humanitarian law.

On May 22, a total of (195) revolutionary forces and civil society organizations issued a joint statement. In a statement, it demanded AA conduct an independent investigation, and if there were any real violations, it was requested to punish the perpetrators and also requested to meet and consult with Rohingya leaders as soon as possible.

The National Unity Government’s response

The National Unity Government (NUG) stated on May 21 that it was particularly concerned about the worsening situation in northern Rakhine State regarding the Buthidaung situation and stands with other organizations calling for an end to the attacks on civilians and public property.

International responses

On May 18, the ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) called on the international community to intervene to prevent mass killings of Rohingya in northern Rakhine state. He also urged them to fully respect and follow the rules and regulations on humanitarian and human rights under international standards and the military code of code.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said on May 19 that it was particularly concerned about the Buthidaung violence, and called on the terrorist military junta and AA to comply with international laws.

On May 20, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) expressed its deep concern over the violence against the Rohingya in Rakhine State, and on May 21, the US Department of the State issued a statement expressing its deep concern over the situation in the Rakhine state.

Australia, Canada, the European Union, the Republic of Korea, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States also issued a joint statement on May 24 and pointed out the force recruitment, the activation of the conscription law has caused further division among the public and urged the protection of civilians.

AA's responses

The United League of Arakan (ULA) in its statement on May 20 said that the news of the deaths and injuries of some civilians in Buthidaung town was not related to them and was a one-sided accusation, and also mentioned that they were ready to cooperate with any neutral organizations regarding the current issue in Buthidaung-Maungdaw areas.

Regarding the statement of 195 organizations, the United League of Arakan (ULA) on May 24 denied that some of the information contained in the joint statement was wrong and issued a "strong objection".

A growing number of refugees and civilians at risk

According to data released by OCHA in May, thousands of Rohingya from the rural Buthidaung Township have moved to the city since April, and thousands of Rakhine people have also left their homes in Buthidaung Township, and there are nearly 10,000 IDPs from the war in Buthidaung Township since April.