Border News Agency
Mrauk-U, September 8

Residents of Mrauk U said that on September 5, in Sin Khran Village of Mrauk U Township, which is under the control of the Arakan Army, the village administrator appointed by the Arakan People’s Revolutionary Government attempted to sexually assault a female internally displaced person (IDP).

According to reports, on the night of September 5, U Maung Aye Nyunt, 47, the village administrator of Sin Khran Village, entered the home of a female internally displaced person (IDP) and attempted to sexually assault her.

According to locals in Mrauk-U, at the time of the incident, U Maung Aye Nyunt was completely naked when he forcefully grabbed the female IDP and attempted to rape her. The woman managed to break free, scream for help, and flee the scene.

“He climbed into the house and tried to rape her by force. He stripped off his clothes and attempted the assault,” said a woman from Mrauk-U town to Border News Agency. “As the village administrator, he abuses his power. The very person who should be protecting us has become the one committing crimes. If effective action isn’t taken, he will continue to commit such acts.”

Residents of Mrauk-U said that the village administrator, U Maung Aye Nyunt, was arrested by the Department of Law Enforcement and Public Security (DLEPS) under the Arakan People’s Authority. However, they added that it remains unclear under which law he will be prosecuted or what level of action will be taken against him.

In some areas under the control of the Arakan Army, displaced women said they have been subjected to sexual assault and rape by camp officials, village administrators, and township officers. However, when they reported these incidents to the relevant authorities, their complaints were not accepted, leaving the victims without justice.

Arakan residents said that during the final phase of the war, instability in administrative mechanisms and a lack of strong rule of law have created opportunities for criminals to threaten the safety of women.

They added that since many men are serving in the military under the Arakan Army, women left at home are forced to take full responsibility for providing for their families on their own.

As a result, women said they are forced to work in paddy fields, gather vegetables, and collect firewood to make a living, leaving them exposed to dangers, including threats to their personal safety.

“When there are men at home, there’s some sense of security. But since we are carrying the household responsibilities alone, we can’t just sit idly without working. When we go out to work for a living… and when we sleep at night with only our children, we feel unsafe. Now, with more and more drunk people in the villages, we have to constantly be cautious about our safety,” a mother from Kyauktaw Township told Border News Agency.

Women said that in areas controlled by the Arakan Army, group drinking and drug use have become more common, and incidents of sexual harassment and verbal abuse against women traveling alone have increased compared to before.

As a result, women feel unsafe at home, on the streets, and in workplaces, experiencing a constant sense of insecurity.

In addition, displaced women said that they have to sleep in places without proper roofs or shelter, and carry out activities such as using the toilet and bathing in unsecured areas, leaving them exposed to danger and feeling unsafe.