Recent reports indicate that the Arakan Army, an armed faction in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, is engaging in severe human rights abuses against the Rohingya minority, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW). The organization has described the conditions imposed on the Rohingya as harsh and reminiscent of the oppressive tactics previously employed by the Myanmar military.
The Arakan Army faces allegations of genocide, involving efforts to forcibly displace the Rohingya. Reports highlight inhumane living conditions, such as stringent movement restrictions, arbitrary detention, and enforced labor. Such measures include obligatory travel permits that are valid for just one day, costing 3,000 to 5,000 kyat ($1.40-$2.40) each, requiring multiple endorsements before issuance.
The Rohingya, a predominantly Muslim group, have a long history of systemic discrimination in Myanmar. This includes accusations of apartheid and ethnic cleansing which align with definitions in Article 7 of the Rome Statute and Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions, prohibiting violence and inhumane treatment.
Recent territorial gains by the Arakan Army against Myanmar’s junta in northern Rakhine have resulted in heightened conflict, with airstrikes devastating towns and cities under resistance control. The Rohingya community, caught amidst the conflict, has suffered extrajudicial killings and forced recruitment by both sides, further complicating their plight.
The humanitarian crisis is compounded by ongoing restrictions on livelihoods and agriculture, alongside a military blockade on humanitarian aid. Over 400,000 people are now internally displaced in Rakhine and Chin states, and up to 200,000 have sought refuge in Bangladesh.
Reports from Al Jazeera add that in the past year, the brutality has included arson, extrajudicial killings, and systematic atrocities. An Argentine court has gone so far as to issue international arrest warrants for several military officials, citing accusations of genocide. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has similarly moved to seek accountability against Myanmar’s military leadership, including its Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing, under charges of crimes against humanity.