Rathedaung Twsp villagers avoiding home returns as troops remain deployed

By DMG 27 Jul 2022

DMG Newsroom
27 July 2022, Rathedaung 

Local residents in Rathedaung Township, Arakan State, who fled their homes following the deployment of junta troops near their villages, say they still dare not return to their homes. 

Some 1,500 residents have fled after junta troops entered Pyar Chaung Gyi, Alel Ywa Che and Pyin Kaung villages on July 18. That same day, around 40 internally displaced people (IDPs) sheltering at Pyi Lone Chan Thar Monastery in Rathedaung town felt compelled to flee after about 60 Myanmar military troops were deployed at the monastery. 

Some 40 junta troops have left Pyar Chaung Gyi, but they are staying near the village, making bunkers out of sandbags near the road and the village, said villager U Hsan Lin. 

“Villagers fled after they entered the village. We fled for fear that we might be trapped if fighting breaks out as military tensions are running high between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army,” he said. 

Another resident from Pyar Chaung Gyi said on condition of anonymity that he fled out of concern that he might be arrested on suspicion of having ties to the Arakan Army (AA). 

“I am concerned about a possible fight. We are poor. We catch fish and sell them in Rathedaung. But they have set up a checkpoint on the road, and we are concerned that they will interrogate and accuse us of being AA members. So, we have fled,” he said. 

Many residents of the three villages are staying in Awada village, said village administrator U Hla Maung Yay. Some have also fled to Pauktaw Che, Tun Yawai and Kyauk Sone villages. 

“Some are OK, but some are not as they can’t work,” he said. “On the first day that they arrived in our village, our villagers fed them. Their villages are not far from us. So, lately some of them go back to their villages in the morning depending on the situation, cook there, and bring meals for their family members.” 

Villagers said they do not feel safe to return to their villages unless and until the Myanmar military soldiers leave. 

“Though there is no fighting, we dare not stay in our villages as they are staying not far from our village. We will return home only after they leave. Our livelihoods have been affected, but we have to make do with what we have,” said Daw May Lone from Pyar Chaung Gyi. 

DMG was unable to obtain comment from Arakan State Security and Border Affairs Minister Colonel Kyaw Thura.