Muslim militiamen flee junta camps in Sittwe amid oppression, discrimination

By Admin 22 Jan 2026

DMG Newsroom

22 January 2026, Sittwe

Investigations have revealed that Muslim militiamen forcibly recruited into military camps in Sittwe are fleeing because they can no longer endure oppression within the Myanmar military.

Members of the Muslim community say the militiamen are escaping from junta battalions in Sittwe due to ethnic discrimination by military officers, forced labour and other abuses.

“Muslim youth are unhappy because they are being threatened and recruited into the army. Myanmar military officers discriminate against them and oppress them, so they end up running away from the military,” a Muslim man from Sittwe Township told DMG.

On January 16, the military regime reportedly arrested a camp commander after four Muslim militiamen from a military outpost in Ohntawgyi Village allegedly fled to the Say Thamargyi military outpost. The four escapees are being intensively searched for and have not been found to date.

On the same day, 15 Muslim militiamen reportedly fled from a military outpost near Barsa Village.

The administrator of Barsa Village is reportedly facing pressure and threats from the military regime to search for the fleeing militiamen.

The military regime has also been carrying out arrests of Muslim civilians. On January 17, junta police arrested a man from Thetkelpyin Village on charges of human trafficking. Local Muslims told DMG that four Muslim men were arrested in Sittwe on January 14, while two Muslim women and one man were arrested on January 13.

“We want to ask the military regime not to recruit Muslim youth through propaganda. This could lead to conflict between Arakanese and Muslims. We also want restrictions to be eased so that Sittwe residents can work freely,” another Muslim man said.

Muslims said those arrested have been sentenced to one year in prison, though DMG has not been able to independently confirm this.

Locals said the military regime is using Muslims to defend Sittwe, which is under attack by the Arakan Army, while restricting movement out of the city, negatively affecting residents’ socio-economic lives.

Muslims also pointed out that while the military regime—accused of genocide and facing proceedings at the International Court of Justice over its treatment of Muslims—has been promoting dialogue with the Muslim community, this contrasts sharply with conditions on the ground.