Naung Min Thu, Narinjara News, 2 August 2024

Many RohingyaMuslim youths are fleeing to Bangladesh as  the military junta wasforcing 30 recruits per ward in Maungdaw, the westernmost township of ArakanState, for  undergoing short-term military training.

A Muslim elder from Myoma Ka Nyin Tan ward informed that the junta forcesordered 30 young men per ward to attend military training. If they refuse, theywill face arrests and even deaths.  The young men do not want to take uparms and their families are against the initiative as well. If they arearrested, they will be forced to fight and hence many young people have alreadyfled  to  Bangladesh, he added.

According to local sources, the  ARSA and RSO armed groups with theassistance from  the military junta were pursuing the youths in Muslimwards and villages under  Maungdaw. They are recruiting new members tocounter the Arakan Army (AA) offensive. The junta is also  providing themshort-term military training.

A local Muslim man said that the junta  targetedthe uneducated youths as they can be easily mobilized. Usually the educatedMuslim youths refuse to join the military forces. As the military forces arenot  strong enough, they are forcing Muslims youth to take up arms, headded.

The ARSA, RSO, and ARA rebels are also working withthe military junta to compel Muslim youths from various refugee camps insideBangladesh to cross the border with Myanmar. Later  they are beingconscripted and till now over 2,000 such youths have been fighting in supportof the junta.

On 30 July, over 300 Muslim youths, who received military training from thejunta forces, died following a clash with the AA fighters in nearby Maungdawareas.

In Maungdaw, the AA members are aggressively attackingthe remaining 5th border guard police battalion with an aim to take control ofthe town. The junta forces and their allied armed groups are trying their bestto defend their bases.

Photo caption:  2 young Muslim menand their mother from Maungdaw who were arrested on July 17 while fleeing toBangladesh.