Vox Pop: Voices from Arakan on Human Rights Day

By Admin 10 Dec 2025

DMG Newsroom

10 December 2025, Sittwe

December 10 is International Human Rights Day — a day designated by the United Nations to recognize the dignity and inherent value of every human being, and to draw global attention to human rights violations so that they may be prevented and stopped.

For more than two years, during the ongoing conflict in Arakan State, the military junta has subjected the Arakanese population to widespread and systematic violations, including airstrikes, the cutting of essential supplies, and the obstruction of humanitarian assistance.

In this context, DMG presents the voices and perspectives of Arakan political figures, members of the Arakanese diaspora, women, internally displaced persons, and human rights advocates responding to the junta’s continued abuses.

U Myat Tun, Director, Arakan Human Rights Defenders and Promoters Association

“We are seeing junta airstrikes targeting schools and free education centers in Arakan. To put it plainly, these are war crimes. The Geneva Conventions exist, and the Fourth Geneva Convention clearly states that civilians must not be harmed. What the junta is doing is a deliberate violation of these conventions.
Recently, in Thayet Tapin Village of Kyauktaw Township, 21 students were killed in an airstrike. Earlier this month in Minbya, a student and a teacher were killed when the junta bombed the area, and two other civilians also died. The junta is killing innocent people. It is completely inhumane.”

A Female IDP (Ponnagyun Township)

“Prices are skyrocketing and we can’t meet our basic needs. On top of that, we live in constant fear — we never know where the next bomb will fall or when artillery shells will land. The junta is bombing places where civilians live. It’s truly cruel.
They can’t defeat the AA, so they bomb civilians instead. They have no compassion. I want the UN to take immediate action against the junta. They also block essential goods from entering our area. We don’t understand politics — we just want to survive, to live freely, and to earn a living without fear.”

U Saw Wai Zan, Chairman, Arakan American Community (AAC)

“Right now in Arakan, people are suffering from junta airstrikes and the blockade of essential goods. We urge the international community to take this seriously. Countless innocent civilians have been killed by air attacks, and people are struggling because basic supplies are cut off.
These are deliberate crimes committed by the junta against the population. Humanitarian aid is also being blocked, so organizations like WFP, ICRC, and WHO must be granted access. We call on the United Nations to intensify investigations and take action regarding the junta’s human rights violations.
We will continue to advocate for human dignity, rights, and justice.”

An Arakan Political Leader

“All these problems began when the junta destroyed the democratic process, overthrew an elected government, and seized power by force. After that, the people began resisting. As armed resistance grew, the country became unstable and fighting spread.
Instead of seeking political solutions, the junta pretended to pursue peace — pushing disarmament and forcing groups back under the 2008 Constitution. These fake peace gestures only prolonged the conflict, prompting resistance forces to escalate their armed struggle.
The junta has committed widespread abuses — killing and torturing innocent civilians nationwide. Airstrikes happen almost every day somewhere in the country. There is plenty of evidence that these are war crimes.
This is not only a human rights crisis; these are acts of mass atrocity. The military dictatorship must collapse. Historically, dictatorships use violence and fear to control people, but today they can no longer suppress the entire population. Only political dialogue can resolve this. That is why people across the country are rising up against the junta.”

Pyae Phyo Naing, Chairman, Ponnagyun Youth Association

“At this point, taking the junta to court seems impossible. We raised our voices before — we spoke out about attacks on civilians and about the junta committing war crimes. But no matter what we say, they will continue their brutality.
We can only do what is within our own capacity. When bombs fall, IDPs say, ‘If only we reach Rakhine land safely, we’ll be okay.’ Asking the junta not to bomb is pointless. So I no longer want to give any opinions. What’s the use? They will continue doing what they do.”