Press Release

Rohingya Sea Tragedy Is a Result of Genocidal Persecution in Arakan

The Arakan Rohingya National Council (ARNC) expresses its deepest sorrow and strongest condemnation following the tragic sinking of a boat carrying Rohingya refugees and other migrants off the coast of Malaysia, near the Thailand–Malaysia maritime boundary. According to Malaysian maritime authorities, one body has been recovered and “dozens” remain missing after an overloaded vessel believed to be carrying about 90 people capsized near the area of Tarutao Island, Thailand, drifting toward Langkawi Island, Malaysia.

The incident reportedly involved migrants who initially boarded a larger vessel in Myanmar’s Arakan State carrying 300 Rohingya from Buthidaung Township and then transferred to smaller boats to avoid detection when it came closer to the Malaysian coast.

This horrific event must not be seen as a mere accident. It is another consequence of the ongoing genocidal persecution and campaign of erasure against the Rohingya people in their ancestral land of Arakan State, Myanmar. ARNC has repeatedly warned that the Arakan Army (AA) has undertaken a systematic campaign to render Arakan Rohingya-free through killings, forced displacement, arbitrary arrests, force recruitment, destruction of Rohingya villages and policies of siege. These brutal tactics have left thousands of Rohingya civilians trapped without food, security or hope, pushing many into deadly sea crossings out of desperation.

This tragedy is not simply an unfortunate occurrence; it is the direct result of the Arakan Army’s atrocities and the sustained persecution that continue to drive Rohingya families into the sea, where countless lives are being lost.

ARNC strongly condemns these inhuman acts and issues an urgent call for international intervention to end the suffering of the Rohingya people.

ARNC hereby appeals to:

• The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to fulfil its humanitarian obligations and establish a regional protection mechanism for Rohingya refugees and migrants at sea and onshore and to establish a joint task force to investigate human trafficking gangs and hold them to account.
• The United Kingdom to immediately convene a meeting of the United Nations Security Council to discuss the crisis in Arakan State, including violations of international law by the Burmese military and Arakan Army, breaches of the provisional measures ordered by the International Court of Justice, starvation in Rakhine State, the crisis for Rohingya refugees impacted by aid cuts, and human trafficking.
• The European Union (EU), the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the United States (USA) and the United Kingdom (UK) to sanction the Arakan Army and its leaders for their role in violations of international law.
• Regional governments, especially Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia, to ensure safe disembarkation, thorough search-and-rescue operations, and humane treatment for all survivors regardless of legal status.
• The international community must not remain indifferent while an entire people are being driven from their homeland, and many are forced to risk death at sea. The Rohingya are facing a renewed wave of genocide under the guise of conflict in Arakan, and global silence only emboldens the perpetrators.

ARNC reiterates its unwavering demand for justice, accountability, and the full restoration of Rohingya indigenous rights in their homeland in Arakan State.

For more information, please contact:

• Tun Khin: +44 78 8871 4866
• Nay San Lwin: +49 176 6213 9138
• Khairul Amin: +47 9 242 8989

Press Release

ARNC Strongly Condemns the Indiscriminate Bombing of Civilians

The Arakan Rohingya National Council (ARNC) expresses its strongest condemnation of the brutal airstrike carried out by the Myanmar military junta on October 30 and 31, 2025, in Ponnagyun, Kyauk Phyu and Rathedaung Townships, which resulted in numerous deaths and injuries.

This barbaric act, targeting innocent villagers with aerial bombs, is yet another manifestation of the junta’s systematic campaign of terror against civilians across Myanmar. Such deliberate and indiscriminate attacks constitute clear violations of international humanitarian law and amount to war crimes.

As a people who have endured decades of state-sponsored violence, genocide, displacement, and now facing forced expulsion and erasure under Arakan Army, the Rohingya community is no stranger to these types of barbarity and we deeply understand the pain, fear, and sufferings that victims’ relatives and their people are experiencing. We share their grief and stand in solidarity with the victims and their families.

The ARNC condemns the killing of innocent people in all its forms and manifestations, irrespective of who commits these crimes. The targeting of women, children, and non-combatants is an assault on humanity itself.

We are morally obliged to denounce such atrocities and will continue to advocate for the protection of all civilians in Arakan State and across Myanmar. The ARNC calls on the international community, the United Nations, US, UK, OIC and ASEAN to:

1. Immediately investigate this heinous attack and hold the perpetrators accountable under international law;
2. Impose sanctions on the Myanmar military’s aviation sector and its suppliers;
3. Ensure humanitarian access to affected communities across Rakhine; and
4. Support the International Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM) and efforts toward referral to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The repeated airstrikes on civilians, including the recent Pan Nila massacre in Ponnagyun Township, demonstrate the junta’s utter disregard for human life and international norms. Such crimes cannot go unanswered. The ARNC will continue to work with all democratic and ethnic forces striving to end the sufferings of the people of Arakan and Myanmar and to ensure that every community, Rakhine, Rohingya, and others, can live in peace, dignity, and justice in Arakan and elsewhere in Myanmar.

For more information, please contact:

• Tun Khin: +44 78 8871 4866
• Nay San Lwin: +49 176 6213 9138
• Khairul Amin: +47 9 242 8989

Press Release

Statement of Appreciation from the Arakan Rohingya National Council (ARNC)

The Arakan Rohingya National Council (ARNC) expresses its profound appreciation to the organisers of the UN High-Level Conference on Rohingya Muslims and Other Minorities in Myanmar, held on 30 September 2025, during the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. This historic conference, mandated by UN General Assembly Resolution 79/278, marked a critical step in the international community’s collective response to the ongoing genocide, persecution, and displacement facing the Rohingya people.

We extend our deepest gratitude to Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser of the Interim Government of Bangladesh, for his visionary leadership and presentation of a seven-point plan that charts a practical and humane pathway towards resolving this protracted crisis. His framework, emphasising safe and dignified repatriation, cessation of violence, stabilisation of Rakhine State, accountability, and full humanitarian support, provides a solid foundation upon which international action must now be built. We are also profoundly grateful to the people of Bangladesh and the National Security Adviser and High Representative Dr Khalilur Rahman.

The ARNC also wishes to thank the co-hosts of this conference and the many governments that demonstrated their solidarity through vital pledges of humanitarian support and statements. We note in particular:

• The United States, which pledged over $60 million to assist Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.
• The United Kingdom, which committed $36 million to address urgent humanitarian needs, including health, shelter, and livelihood support.

At a time when the Joint Response Plan is only 37% funded, these commitments bring hope to nearly 1.2 million Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar and to the displaced Rohingya within Arakan Rakhine itself.

However, pledges alone are not enough. Now is the time to translate these promises into immediate, tangible support, ensuring that resources reach those most in need and international accountability and justice mechanisms for victims of genocide are fully pursued.

Our sincere gratitude also goes to ASEAN, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the European Union, and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights for their continued commitment and contributions toward addressing the plight of the Rohingya people.

We deeply appreciate ASEAN’s call for stronger regional cooperation, global support, and its reaffirmation of the Five-Point Consensus. We also deeply appreciate the High Commissioner for the UN Human Rights Council for calling for justice, accountability, and referral to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The ARNC calls upon all stakeholders, including the Rakhine community, to rise to the occasion. The future of Arakan State must be built on peace, coexistence, and equality for all its peoples—Rohingya, Rakhine, and other minorities. The foundation laid by this conference offers a unique opportunity to move towards a future based on justice, security, and dignity.

The ARNC reaffirms its commitment to working alongside the international community, host countries, regional organisations, and all communities of Arakan to ensure that this moment of renewed global attention results in lasting solutions for the people of Arakan.

Those who commit genocide and crimes against us may continue their injustices and deny our rights, but the Arakan Rohingya National Council (ARNC) will never waver. We will stand firm with all peace-loving people across the world, our brave brothers and sisters who spoke out at the conference, and the resilient young generation of Rohingya whose courage, hope, and determination inspire us all. Congratulations to them for carrying the torch of justice forward.

For more information, please contact:

• Tun Khin: +44 78 8871 4866
• Nay San Lwin: +49 176 6213 9138
• Khairul Amin: +47 9 242 8989