The Arakha Army (AA) has said that while they are providing training in some areas within Arakan State for local security and defense, they do not recruit underage youth for military service.
AA spokesperson U Khaing Thukha said this in response to reports claiming that Mro people, including youth as young as 13 years old, were being forcibly recruited from Buthidaung and Maungdaw Townships for military training.
“These are unfair accusations. We absolutely do not recruit underage youth for military training. Claims about forcibly recruiting children for military training are untrue,” said U Khaing Thukha.
Reports had emerged in December last year that the AA had recruited around 100 Mro people from over 10 villages in Maungdaw Township for military service.
However, the AA spokesperson clarified that they are only providing basic security awareness training to locals to protect them from threats by terrorist Muslim armed groups in the border region.
“We are providing basic security awareness training to locals so they will not be killed by terrorists, to maintain security awareness, to defend their own villages, and to coordinate with security forces when necessary. We are doing this because the locals need it,” U Khaing Thukha said.
He went on to say that such security training for self-defense is crucial for minority groups living in the border areas, and they need to cooperate as good citizens regarding these activities.
“Terrorist groups are recruiting thousands of people from the refugee camps across the Naf River are and threatening to commit genocide against our people. So, as a governing authority, we are doing what is necessary for security requirements. Everyone needs to cooperate as good citizens,” U Khaing Thukha said.
Residents reported that in December, the AA forcibly recruited over 90 Mro people, including underage children, from Buthidaung and Maungdaw Townships for military service.
A Mro university student who was displaced in Yangon said that similar forced recruitment of Mro, Chin, and Daingnet (Chakma) ethnic groups had occurred before.
“As a citizen, we understand and accept our responsibility to defend this region given the political situation. But, it’s also important to treat people fairly and properly. From our consistent monitoring of military recruitment of these ethnic communities, there have been instances of harsh threats. We think higher authorities need to control this,” said the Mro youth.
The AA took complete control of the border area with Bangladesh in December 2024. However, they reportedly deployed thousands of soldiers for border security, believing that Muslim armed groups like the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), Rohingya Solidarity Organisation (RSO), and Arakan Rohingya Army (ARA) could potentially harm people in Maungdaw and Buthidaung Townships by cooperating with and receiving assistance from the military junta.
Sent by Narinjara
