Rohingya accuse Myanmar junta of secret detentions and extortion
Residents in junta-controlled western Myanmar say Rohingya civilians are being detained without explanation, held incommunicado and pressured to pay for their release
YANGON, Myanmar (MNTV) — Rohingya living in western Myanmar say junta security forces are carrying out a campaign of arbitrary arrests, secret detention and alleged extortion, deepening fears among a community that has long faced systematic persecution and severe restrictions on its basic rights.
The arrests have been reported from Sittwe Township in Rakhine State, according to Rohingya Khobor, with residents accusing police, soldiers, military intelligence officers and Border Guard Police of detaining Rohingya civilians.
The detention is alleged to have links to human trafficking or the Arakan Army, often without presenting evidence or formally notifying families of their whereabouts.
Residents say many detainees disappear into military facilities or intelligence offices rather than regular police stations, leaving relatives unable to locate them, contact lawyers or determine whether criminal charges have been filed.
Families also allege that some officials have demanded money in exchange for the release of detained relatives, raising concerns that arrests are being used not only for security operations but also for extortion.
Several of the reported detentions appear to have stemmed from little more than name similarities with individuals listed on security watchlists.
Community members say authorities have detained people after claiming their names matched those of suspects, despite providing no explanation or evidence linking them to any criminal activity.
One reported case involved a Rohingya humanitarian worker from the Baw Du Pha-2 displacement camp who was taken away after officers told him he was needed only for questioning. His family says it has received almost no reliable information about where he is being held or his legal status since his arrest.
In another case, relatives say a 70-year-old Rohingya man from Thetkepyin village was detained after security personnel claimed his name resembled that of someone on a suspect list. More than a week later, they say authorities had still not disclosed the legal basis for his detention or where he was being held.
Residents describe an atmosphere in which even routine encounters with security forces have become a source of fear. Some say they worry that an administrative error, an unverified accusation or even sharing a common name could result in detention without access to legal safeguards.
The allegations come as Sittwe remains under the control of Myanmar’s military junta, which seized power in the 2021 coup, while conflict continues across much of Rakhine State.
Rohingya civilians have for years faced severe restrictions on movement, education, healthcare and employment, leaving them with limited access to legal protection or independent institutions capable of investigating alleged abuses.
Community members say they also face suspicion in areas controlled by the militant group Arakan Army, where some Rohingya have reportedly been detained or questioned over alleged links to the Myanmar military or Rohingya armed groups.
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