Myanmar Military Releases Video of Rohingya Under Coercion in Sittwe

Myanmar's junta chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing (Photo: REUTERS)

Arakan Now | 15 Jan 2026

The Myanmar military has released a video recorded in Sittwe, showing Rohingya individuals who appear to have been forced to deny allegations of genocide and other abuses by the army.

In the footage, Rohingya men and women are seen stating that the Myanmar military was not responsible for violence against civilians. Instead, they were made to accuse the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) of killing civilians. They also claimed the military only carried out “clearance operations” and treated Rohingya communities kindly.

At one point in the video, a military voice asks, “Did we do that to you?” The Rohingya individuals are then shown replying, “No, you didn’t.” Observers say these statements were made under pressure and do not reflect free or voluntary testimony.

Rohingya activists say such videos follow a long-standing pattern of forced statements and propaganda, used by the military to deny documented abuses in Rakhine State and shift blame for violence onto others.