Border News Agency
Kyauktaw, May 31
Muslim communities have reported that they are now allowed to travel freely within areas controlled by the Arakan Army (AA).
According to them, they can now move between AA-controlled townships such as Maungdaw, Buthidaung, Rathedaung, Ponnakyun, Kyauktaw, Mrauk-U, Minbra, and Myaybon.
“In the areas controlled by the AA, we Muslims now have equal rights alongside the Rakhine people. We are free to travel wherever we want. We are even allowed to travel beyond townships, which was not permitted before. Just like many people live and move freely, we also have the freedom to travel and live,” said a Muslim man from Kyauktaw Township in an interview with Border News Agency.
Muslims say they now have to obtain travel permits from village administrators under the Arakan People’s Revolutionary Government, and they are traveling with these permits.
Because of this, they are able to travel across townships and engage in trading activities.
However, Muslims report that they are only subject to checkpoints and inspections along with other ethnic groups, and even those without national registration cards can still travel relatively freely.
“When we travel to other townships, if there are checkpoints, they ask if we have a national registration card. Since we are not citizens, we do not have such cards. But that doesn’t mean they deny us permission to travel; it’s just a legal inspection. At those checkpoints, if we have a permit issued by the village administrator appointed by the AA military, we are allowed to pass through,” said a Muslim man from Kyauktaw Township in an interview with Border News Agency.
Arakan locals say that within the Arakan Army (AA)-controlled areas, Muslims have been granted rights similar to citizenship, including work permits and freedom of movement.
During the final phase of the Arakan conflict, the AA launched decisive offensives and took full control of fourteen townships in the Arakan region, including Maungdaw, Buthidaung, and Rathedaung, and is now establishing governance structures as the Arakan People’s Revolutionary administration.
Arakan locals say that within the governance structures of the Arakan People’s Revolutionary administration, Muslims have also been appointed and given positions. They add that a Muslim Affairs Committee has been formed and is actively functioning under the Arakan People’s Revolutionary Government.
