Four Rohingya Fishermen Detained by Navy in Arakan’s Pauktaw Township

Photo: Photo: Anadolu Ajansı/ File Photo

Arakan Now | 3 December 2025

The Myanmar navy detained four Rohingya fishermen from Sin Tat Maw village in Pauktaw Township on 26 November after halting their small fishing boat near the coast, an activist based in Sittwe said.

Following their arrest, rumours circulated alleging that a large vessel carrying about 400 Rohingya had also been intercepted that same day. The activist told Arakan Now that the rumour was unfounded and that no such boat had been seized.

On 20 November, however, the navy did intercept a separate boat carrying 513 Rohingya near Pauktaw, as previously reported by Arakan Now. The passengers were reportedly attempting to travel to Malaysia. From that group, 281 people under the age of 18 have so far been released, including 45 boys and 20 girls. Survivors said they fled northern Rakhine due to escalating violence and forced recruitment by the Arakan Army (AA).