Press Release – Arakan Rohingya National Council (ARNC)

Rohingya Sea Tragedy Is a Result of Genocidal Persecution in Arakan

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

ARNC Strongly Condemns the Indiscriminate Bombing of Civilians

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:

Immediately investigate this heinous attack and hold the perpetrators accountable under international law;
Impose sanctions on the Myanmar military’s aviation sector and its suppliers;
Ensure humanitarian access to affected communities across Rakhine; and
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

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

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

ARNC Delegation Attends and Contributes to Stakeholders’ Dialogue Conference in Cox’s Bazar

ARNC Delegation at the Stakeholders’ Dialogue Conference

Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh: This is a historic conference, the first in eight years since the Myanmar genocide of Rohingya survivors sought refuge in Bangladesh. Arakan Rohingya National Council (ARNC) expresses its gratitude to the Government of Bangladesh for hosting the conference and reaffirms its commitment to continue advocating for the rights and dignity of the Rohingya people. We also extend our thanks to our brothers and sisters in the camps for their courage and resilience. We remain hopeful that very soon we will walk together on the road back to Arakan.

A delegation of eight members from the Arakan Rohingya National Council (ARNC), out of the thirteen invited, successfully participated in and contributed to the Stakeholders’ Dialogue: Takeaway to the High-Level Conference on the Rohingya Situation held in Cox’s Bazar from 24–26 August. The conference, attended by representatives from various countries, provided a critical platform to discuss pressing issues concerning the Rohingya community.

ARNC delegation members with Dr. Khalilur Rahman, National Security Adviser and High Representative for Rohingya Affairs.

Throughout the sessions, ARNC delegates actively raised a broad range of questions and concerns vital to the justice, rights, protection, dignified return and future of the Rohingya people. On the second day of the conference, ARNC Chairperson Tun Khin and Co-Chair Nay San Lwin took part in key panel discussions and delivered impactful speeches, highlighting urgent humanitarian needs as well as long-term solutions for justice, accountability and protection with international oversight. Contributions of the ARNC members were well-received by the audience and added significant value to the proceedings.

In addition to their formal participation, ARNC members held cordial discussions and constructive interactions with Bangladeshi officials, foreign dignitaries, and our Rohingya brothers and sisters from the camps. On August 26, 2025, during the visit to the camps organised by the government of Bangladesh, the delegation listened closely to the concerns and aspirations of the community, reaffirming ARNC’s commitment to amplifying their voices on the international stage.

For more information, please contact:
Tun Khin: +44 78 8871 4866 | Nay San Lwin: +49 176 6213 9138 | Khairul Amin: +47 9 242 8989

8 Years On: Accountability needed for Myanmar atrocities against Rohingya

August 25, 2025, marks eight years since the Myanmar military and authorities launched widespread atrocities against the Rohingya population in Myanmar’s Rakhine State.

Starting in August 2017, Myanmar security forces razed several hundred Rohingya villages and killed Rohingya women, men, and children throughout northern Rakhine State, forcing at least 700,000 to flee to Bangladesh. An Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar documented evidence of genocide and crimes against humanity.

Since these atrocities, no one has been held accountable in Myanmar for the crimes committed against the Rohingya. In 2021, the military launched a coupthatoverthrew the democratically elected, civilian-led government. Since then, the military junta has committed crimes against humanity and war crimes, including targeted airstrikes against civilians and civilian infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, displacement camps, and places of worship.

The Rohingya who remain in Rakhine State continue to face grave risks and ongoing persecution. The junta’s movement restrictions and aid blockages have increased food shortages and health concerns. The Myanmar junta and Rohingya armed groups have unlawfully conscripted Rohingya in Bangladesh and Myanmar to fight in the ongoing conflict against the ethnic Rakhine armed group, the Arakan Army, which also uses forced recruitment.

The Arakan Army in recent years has committed serious abuses against the Rohingya, including extrajudicial executions, torture, forced labor and large-scale arson. An estimated 150,000 Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh since mid-2024.

Over one million Rohingya refugees are facing increasingly dire conditions in Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar camps, including abductions, sexual violence, and the impact of aid cuts on health care, education, and food.

Important accountability measures are taking place. The International Criminal Court (ICC) is investigating atrocity crimes committed in Myanmar and Bangladesh, and provisional measures have been issued by the International Court of Justice as it hears a genocide case against Myanmar brought by The Gambia. Despite this, impunity remains.

In November 2024, the ICC prosecutor requested the issuance of an arrest warrant against Myanmar’s Commander-in-Chief, Min Aung Hlaing. Based on publicly available information, the request is still pending before the court’s judges.

We, the undersigned organizations, urge the United Nations Security Council to immediately refer the situation in Myanmar to the ICC, to ensure comprehensive accountability for crimes committed against all communities. UN member states should also exercise universal jurisdiction to initiate or support criminal prosecutions of those responsible for crimes under international law, including through national courts, as done in Argentina.

While the Myanmar military has committed the vast majority of human rights abuses since 2021, we call on all parties to the armed conflict in Myanmar to comply with international humanitarian law and engage with international justice mechanisms, including the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar.

In addition, we hope the UN General Assembly resolution to convene a High-level Conference on the Situation of Rohingya Muslims and Other Minorities in Myanmar on September 30, 2025, at the UN Headquarters in New York will provide much needed attention to this crisis. However, we are concerned about the lack of Rohingya representation at the conference and the need for a wider spectrum of voices, including Rohingya women, youth, and diverse Rohingya-led civil society from Myanmar, Bangladesh, and the global diaspora.

Rohingya community members must be at the forefront of discussions about their future. As such, we urge the High-Level Conference to be more inclusive, survivor-centered, and focused on accountability and durable solutions, including restored citizenship and the full spectrum of economic, social and political rights for all Myanmar citizens.

We urge all countries hosting Rohingya refugees to protect their rights, including allowing access to education and livelihoods and ensuring they are not threatened with forced returns to Myanmar.

We stand united in our call for an end to impunity, the right of the Rohingya to live in safety and dignity, full recognition of the Rohingya as citizens of Myanmar, and the inclusion of their voices in shaping the country’s future.

Signed: