Thousands of houses torched, bulldozed by junta in Buthidaung

By Admin 23 Apr 2024

DMG Newsroom
23 April 2024, Buthidaung

Thousands of houses have been destroyed by junta troops and forcibly conscripted Muslims in arson attacks and by bulldozing in Arakan State’s Buthidaung town, according to residents.

Four wards — Ward Nos. 3, 4, 5 and 7 — suffered from arson attacks. Among the houses incinerated were properties of Arakanese, Muslim and Hindu people.

“They torched the houses of Arakanese people. And they bulldozed the houses of Muslim and other followers. Many houses were destroyed,” said a Buthidaung town resident.

Not many residents are left in Buthidaung town, as many have already fled the fighting between the regime and Arakkha Army (AA) in Buthidaung Township.

“My house was bulldozed, and I heard that they also took my belongings from the house,” said a resident of Buthidaung who fled the fighting.

Junta troops and Muslim conscripts have been on a torching spree since April 11 in Buthidaung town.

The office and pharmacy of Doctors Without Borders (MSF) based in Buthidaung town was torched on April 15. Medical and office equipment were lost in the fires that also burned over 200 houses nearby, said MSF.

Losing ground in Arakan State, the regime has been targeting civilians with indiscriminate air and artillery strikes as well as arson attacks. It is also accused of stoking racial conflicts.

Nay San Lwin, founder of the Free Rohingya Coalition, said: “The regime forcibly took Rohingya (Muslims) and gave them military training. And it has been committing acts like this to cause misunderstanding between the two communities.”

Fighting has been raging in Buthidaung and Maungdaw townships as the AA has stepped up its attacks on junta positions in those townships.