We are deeply disturbed by the latest findings by Human Rights Watch (HRW) on the massacre of Rohingya civilians in Hoyyar Siri village in Myanmar’s Rakhine State in May 2024 by the Arakan Army. Its report, based on witness testimonies, satellite imagery, photographs, and videos, alleges that actions by the Arakan Army amounted to grave violations of the laws of war, amounting to war crimes. Survivors recounted harrowing scenes of civilians being shot while fleeing, including some waving white flags, while photographs and videos reportedly showed human remains scattered across multiple sites. Despite these findings, the Arakan Army reportedly continues to deny responsibility.
While the international narrative surrounding the Rohingya crisis has centred largely on the abuses committed by Myanmar’s military, the latest HRW report suggests that Rohingyas continue to face persecution and insecurity even in areas no longer controlled by the junta. At least 170 villagers, including around 90 children, were killed or remain missing following the Hoyyar Siri massacre, although the actual toll could be higher. Survivors who later fled to Bangladesh described severe restrictions on movement, forced labour, food shortages, and inadequate access to medical care in Rakhine.
Bangladesh has hosted over a million Rohingya refugees for nearly a decade, despite mounting social, economic, and environmental pressures. Meanwhile, international support has declined, affecting food aid, education, healthcare, and other essential services in the refugee camps. While repatriation remains the most sustainable solution to the crisis, refugees cannot return to places where they face violence, persecution, or renewed displacement. Any attempt to repatriate them without addressing these realities risks a repetition of past failures.
Moreover, the Arakan Army’s actions are not confined to the treatment of Rohingya civilians inside Myanmar. Bangladesh is also increasingly facing the direct consequences of instability along the border. Since the group took control of large parts of the Myanmar side of the border, hundreds of Bangladeshi fishermen have reportedly been detained or abducted from the Naf River and adjacent maritime areas, with many still in the Arakan Army’s custody. Some detainees are Rohingyas who had previously fled to Bangladesh. These incidents show how Rakhine’s instability is increasingly affecting Bangladesh and adding a new dimension to an already complex crisis.
Myanmar’s military and the Arakan Army should immediately stop attacks on civilians, release all those unlawfully detained, and ensure remedies for affected families. The international community must increase pressure on all parties to uphold human rights and protect vulnerable communities in Rakhine. Effective mechanisms to monitor the human rights situation there should be established urgently. Independent investigations into alleged atrocities must proceed without obstruction, and accountability must be ensured regardless of who committed the crimes.
