Arakan Army Takes Over Rohingya Cemetery in Buthidaung Township

Arakan Now, 5 May 2025

Arakan Now earlier reported that on 28 April, the Arakan Army (AA) ordered the residents of Kin Taung Village in Buthidaung Township to stop using their village cemetery. The villagers were told to prepare a new burial ground.

On 4 May 2025, the Arakan Army held a meeting with the villagers. During the meeting, AA told them that from 5 May onwards, the cemetery would be fully taken over by the Arakan Army. They allowed the villagers one day to visit the graves of their relatives. Starting the next day, AA would take full control, surround it with a fence, and guard it with their soldiers.

A villager told Arakan Now, “In the meeting, we begged them not to take the cemetery. We explained that it’s not allowed in our religion. But they didn’t listen to us.”

This cemetery is very old and important to the village. It is the resting place of thousands of Rohingya Muslims.

Now, the Arakan Army has completely taken it over. They told the villagers to find a new place for burials.