Valuables stolen during battle for Buthidaung returned to rightful owners: AA

By Admin 04 Dec 2024

DMG Newsroom
4 December 2024, Buthidaung

The Arakkha Army (AA) issued a statement on December 3 saying property that was stolen before the battle for control of Buthidaung began, during the fighting in downtown Buthidaung, and after the seizure of the town has been returned to the rightful owners from various ethnic groups.

AA troops recovered stolen items from homes in downtown Buthidaung and returned them to their rightful owners for the first time on November 30, with the remaining items set to be returned in the future, according to the ethnic armed group’s statement.

“AA troops have arrested thieves and those who deliberately set fire to residential and commercial buildings in downtown Buthidaung, and are investigating and taking legal action based on evidence and testimonies,” the statement said.

The AA said most of those who looted and destroyed property were military-trained Muslims linked to the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), Rohingya Solidarity Organization (RSO) and Arakan Rohingya Army (ARA).

“They [armed Muslims] stole everything before they burned the houses. They also stole some of the things that were left after the fire. Now we have only recovered half of the things that the AA was able to seize,” said a local woman in Buthidaung.

The AA has announced that hundreds of thieves and those who received stolen goods have been arrested, investigated and punished after due process.

The statement said that the rightful owners are being allowed to reclaim, on a limited basis, any property that was left intact during the fighting and that was moved to a safe location by AA forces to prevent damage.

The AA announced that the remaining items will continue to be handed over under conditions and dates that guarantee security so that they can reach their rightful owners.

The AA seized control of Buthidaung on May 18, 2024, and during the fighting, more than 2,900 houses in Buthidaung were looted, destroyed, and burned.