Raging Flames in Rakhine: Rohingya's Agony Amidst Ethnic Violence

A brutal arson attack in Buthidaung, Myanmar, left thousands of Rohingya homeless and killed at least 45. Satellite imagery and eyewitness reports implicate the Arakan Army, not the military, contradicting their denial. The conflict exacerbates long-standing ethnic tensions, echoing the catastrophic violence of 2017.

Saifur Rahman woke to the horrifying sound of screams in Buthidaung, a town in Myanmar's Rakhine state. The air was thick with the smell of burning fuel, and flames raged ominously on the horizon. The attack, which began around 10 p.m. on May 17, resulted in mass displacement, with initial estimates suggesting at least 45 Rohingya deaths, according to a senior United Nations official. This incident marks yet another violent episode against the Muslim minority Rohingya, who have faced severe persecution in Myanmar.

Recent investigations by Reuters, supported by satellite imagery, revealed that the Arakan Army—a predominantly ethnic Rakhine militia—was responsible for the fires, contradicting their previous claims that a junta airstrike caused the blaze. James Rodehaver, head of the U.N. office on human rights for Myanmar, pointed to descriptions of Arakan Army soldiers setting fire to buildings with petrol-soaked sticks. This evidence challenges the notion that the junta was behind the attacks.

This latest bout of violence recalls the tragic events of 2017 when Myanmar's military executed what the U.N. classified as "textbook ethnic cleansing," killing thousands of Rohingya and driving over 700,000 to flee to Bangladesh. The recurring violence against the Rohingya, fueled by both the military and ethnic militias, underscores the precarious existence of this marginalized group in Myanmar.

(With inputs from agencies.)