A Painful Journey of Rohingya Man, Faced Genocidal Operations, Violence, Brutalities, Persecution by the Conflict Between the Military Council and Arakan Army in Arakan State

By, 

Liaqat Ali Roshid

A 46 years old, Mohammed Solim son of Hamid Hussain lived in Kawar Vill village, MaungdawTownship, Rakhine state, Myanmar with family. His family includes himself, his wife, his grandmother, three daughters and two sons. Solim faced two phases; he was faced genocidal operation on 25th, August 2017 ethnic cleansing by the coup dictatorship military council, and another phrase of brutal action was carried out by the Arakan Army (AA) in 2024. He was tortured and had encountered many arduous and hazardous circumstances in both phases of genocidal operations on Rohingya Muslim in Arakan state in Myanmar. 

The long time institutionalized persecution of Rohingya community in Myanmar has been happening from time to time dating back for years and making the Rohingya Muslim live a disaster and faced ethnic extermination in Arakan state, Myanmar according to the United Nation. On 9th October in 2016, there was a brutal operation against Rohingya Muslim and ethnic cleansing campaigns in Arakan state. During this campaign, thousands of innocent Rohingya people including women and children were mercilessly killed, tortured and arrested by the government of Myanmar. During this period, Solim and, all of his villagers were tortured brutally, and forced to leave their village, Kawar Vill. As a result of that, he was living in the nearest village with his family. After around six months, the military council allowed them to return to their village. 

– On 25th August, 2017 the military council launched a genocidal operation against the Rohingya Muslim following the continued ethics cleansing campaign. During this period, thousands of Rohingya Muslim were inhumanly killed, villages were burnt down, girls and women were sexually harassed, raped, and more than one million Rohingya had to flee to the neighboring country Bangladesh to seek refuge. According to Mr Antony J. Blinken (Former United States Secretary of State), ” The United States has concluded that genocide was committed seven times. Today marks the eighth, as I have determined that members of the Burmese military committed genocide and crimes against humanity against the Rohingya community.”

After 2017, genocidal operation, there are a small number of populations did not leave the Arakan even after so many challenges and hardships. Solim’s family was one of them and lived their lives with a lot of fears and an uncertain future. Due to the unlawful condition, Solim was arrested by the Military council without any crimes from his home alongside some of his villagers.

They were treated badly and tortured brutally which is unbearable and Solim was an eyewitness that two people died due to atrocities and tortured by the military council. Later on, the militarycouncil sentenced them all including Solim for 20 years without a single crime. Solim faced numerous difficulties and physically tortured in the jail, too. 

– Solim’s family faced various challenges financially as he was the only income source for his entire family. The family had to face the food crises, starvation as everything was so expensive and many other challenges after he was being sentenced. During these difficult circumstances, the family used it to get some humanitarian aid for the NGO (ICRC) and they managed to survive with a lot of financial status. Solim could return to home after staying in jail for five years as fifteen years of his punishment was forgiven, and the family was reunited after so much hardships in their way. 

The happiness of the reunion was no longer because Solim was arrested by the Arakan Army (AA) and he faced the brutal persecution at the hand of AA. According to Solim, “The armedgroup (AA) tied him and other people’s hands and legs as well as no food and water was given to them for five days. After five days of continuous torturing and being tied, the armed group (AA) freed their two legs but not their hands and torturing were continued for one month.” After one month, Solim and other people were set free to return home but 20 people were missed. There was no news of those people whether they are alive or dead, said Solim. He also mentioned, ” He was an eyewitness that two men were brutally killed by the armed group (AA). One of them was his uncle and another one was his villager. 

The armed group (AA) forced his villagers to leave the house and stayed in another village for 14 days. According to Solim, “The military council and armed group (AA) targeted innocent Rohingya and killed people including children in different parts of Arakan”. He estimated thatthe military council and armed group (AA) killed over 600 people in 2024 in different villages. And also added, ” It would be dangerous and risky for Rohingya people to live in Arakan as there are no proper income sources, safety and security. Moreover, the both groups military council and armed group (AA) is targeting Rohingya and making people homeless.” The situation in Arakan state is extremely dire, awful and challenging for the Rohingya community. 

Since the situation of Arakan is horrible and being homeless, Solim made the decision to flee to Bangladesh and save their lives. So, he spoke with the broker for traveling to Bangladesh from Arakan state, Myanmar and the broker demanded 550000 MMK for one person. The most challenging was managing money for six members out of nine members. Solim said, “He did nothave money. So, he asked for help to relatives, friends and villagers who are living in the Bangladesh refugee camp”. And he got help and managed 33,00000 MMK for brokers. Finally, he arrived in the world’s largest refugee camp in Bangladesh. 

Now, Solim is living in Cox’s bazar refugee camp Bangladesh but he is facing several difficulties yet. Solim does not have a shelter, and he is living with his relative’s shelter which is very challenging for him and his relatives because shelter and foods are certain limited in the camp. Solim said, “He will have to return all the money, he borrowed from his relatives, friends and villagers for coming to Bangladesh.” For this reason, he is very worried to survive in the world’s largest refugee camp. Solim needs humanitarian aid and support to rebuild the lives of his family. There are hundreds of families like Solim who had to suffer the persecution, atrocities, injustice and brutal operation due to ongoing conflict between the military council and armed group (AA), which makes the lives of Rohnigya shattered, devastated and surviving a miserable condition in both Arakan state, Myanmar and Bangladesh Refugee camp.