The Arakan Army (AA) reported on March 17 that Rohingya _ who were forcibly recruited by the junta and were sent to the frontline battleground after being given short-term military training _ were found dead in the military camp capture battle in Rathedaung town in Rakhine State.
The statement reported that some Rohingya people _ who had been given urgent military training _ were found dead inside the military camps after being captured 3 military camps _ the light infantry battalions 536, 537 and 538 based in Rathedaung _ at 4:00 p.m. on March 17.
“Rohingya were equipped with uniforms and weapons by the Myanmar Regime. Those Rohingya were sent to the front line to fight back the ULA/AA. Yesterday, I heard 97 people were killed in the battle of Rathedaung. The junta is creating a misunderstanding between the Rakhine people and Rohingya, by sending Rohingya to the frontline fighting,” said a Rohingya refugee in Rakhine State.
A video _ showing Rohingya being sent to the front line in Rakhine State _ uploaded on social media channels including Rakhine local media on March 9, but the military junta has denied this news is not true even this month.
A Rohingya in Rakhine State believes that the junta intends to increase the conflict between the Rakhine people and the Rohingyas living in Rakhine State, by forcibly recruiting Rohingyas and using those to fight the Arakan Army, but this will not happen at present.
“Some Rohingya have been living in Rakhine for a long time. It has been seen time and again that the conflict between the Rakhine and Rohingya is caused by their (junta’s) instigation. The Military Junta is inciting the Rohingya to fight against the Rakhine people. We see they (junta) are instigating ethnic conflict. But seeing their bad attitudes, we will proceed with consideration ourselves,” he said.
An advocate for the protection of Rakhine people’s rights said, “The junta is giving the military training and arming Rohingya Refugees in Sittwe and Kyaukphyu _ with a threat, recruitment, and other enticements _ to fight back the ULA/AA. So, they (junta) are committing forced labor in addition to the Child law.”
After the enforcement of the conscription law, the Muslim youths _ in Buthidaung, Maungdaw, Kyaukphyu and Sittwe _ are being forcibly arrested, and given short-term military training, then those Muslims were sent to the battle front lines, according to local people.