AB News: June 30, 2024

The terrorist military council associated with Muslim militants attacked the houses of non-Muslims in Buthidaung town. Eyewitnesses said that they looted religious buildings and burned down houses besides religious buildings.

Before the burning of houses in Buthidaung town, Muslims destroyed non-Muslim houses. Daw Hartoni, a Hindu woman from Block 2 in Buthidaung City, told AB News that they (the Muslims) took whatever items they wanted from the religious buildings and then set fire to the houses.

“They (Muslims) first demolished the doors and timbers of our Hindu houses, Rakhine houses, and other ethnic houses. Then they took them to their houses. When they don’t have the things they want, they pile up and burn,” she said.

Another Christian religious leader told AB News that to destroy houses and take valuable things, the military council and Muslims, who were equipped with arms, were providing an escort for the Muslims to take the property and burn it.

Arakan Bay News reporters visited Buthidaung to get information after the Arakan Army established its control. They spoke with some people who witnessed the incident, including Christian priests and other members from different ethnic groups, about the incident that happened in Buthidaung.

“They (Muslims) looted the houses of Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, and other ethnic groups except Muslim houses. They took all the things they wanted. We can’t say anything. Both the Military Council Army and the (Muslim) Kala Army were equipped with guns and provided security for their Muslims on every road,” he said.

AB News reporters said that they looted things, including a wooden chair from a monastery found in the home of Shakil, who is one of the leaders of ARSA.

“Locals said he is one of the leaders of ARSA. He is called Shakil. He is well-known and familiar to all. There are many stolen household items unearthed from both the upper and lower floors of his house. Among them, there was a wooden chair on which the name of the donor.” Inscribed.”

In addition to this, many looted items were also stored in the homes of Kyaw Aye and Ayu, the leaders of ARSA. 

Residents said that after the Araka Army captured Buthidaung town on May 18, the leaders of ARSA fled the place.

Buthidaung town was burned by the military council and militant Bengali Muslims from April 11th to 17th, and a total of 4687 houses in the town were burned to ashes. Among them, Rakhine House (2237), Muslim House (550, and Hindu House (122 houses) were burned to ashes, as mentioned in the 9th press conference of the Arakan Army.

In addition, the AB news reporter found that 15 Buddhist monasteries and 7 Christian churches were burned to ashes after being looted.