Local residents of Aung Thazi village in Arakan State’s Rathedaung Township said they dare not return to their village as Tatmadaw troops are stationed near their village.

The Arakan State government has said it is making lists in the respective townships for rehabilitation projects including the rebuilding of houses for displaced people, in order to facilitate their return.  

However, Myanmar military personnel are currently stationed between Aung Thazi and Htee Swe villages and locals are too leery of the troop presence to return to their homes, said U Kyaw Tha Sein of Aung Thazi village, whose house was destroyed in the broader, ongoing conflict between the Tatmadaw and the Arakan Army (AA).  

“We of course want to return to our village. But soldiers are stationed too close to our village. So, even if the government rebuilds our houses, we dare not go back. We are afraid,” he told DMG.

Though military tensions have eased in the region, villagers are concerned that renewed clashes may erupt after their return due to the presence of Tatmadaw troops, said U Khin Maung Oo, the in-charge of Aung Thazi village.

“For the time being, there are no clashes as the two sides have ceased fire. But, it does not mean that the fighting has completely come to an end. There have been frequent clashes in our region, and we are concerned that fresh clashes may break out after we return,” he said.

He said the signing of a bilateral truce between the Tatmadaw and the AA, and Tatmadaw troop withdrawals are essential preconditions for his return.

Existing law bars armed organisations from stationing in civilian areas, said Upper House lawmaker U Khin Maung Latt, calling on the military to withdraw its troops to let local residents return to their villages.

“No armed group shall occupy civilian places. It is too risky to return to those villages. Clashes can take place at any time. If they have to flee again after their return, it might be difficult for them to get re-accommodated at the displacement camp where they are currently staying. So, military troops must leave so that they can return peacefully,” he said.  

Villagers from Kyauktan village-tract, which includes Aung Thazi and Htee Swe, fled to downtown Rathedaung and nearby villages after the Tatmadaw in June said it would carry out clearance operations in the area.  

Fierce clashes took place near Aung Thazi village on October 13, when locals reported that the Tatmadaw attacked with jet fighters and artillery fire from troops stationed on the ground in Htee Swe village. Dozens of homes — reportedly more than three-fourths of Aung Thazi’s houses village’s 96 houses — as well as a monastery and a school in Aung Thazi village were razed by fire from artillery shells that hit the village.  

According to the Rakhine Ethnics Congress, over 2,005 houses in 48 villages have been burnt down in the Tatmadaw-AA conflict since November 2018, across northern Arakan State and in Chin State’s Paletwa Township.