I am delighted to have the opportunity to serve with dignity: Muslim Officer of Arakha Administration

Interview Translation

Global Arakan Network September 10, 2025

Naw Ji Mulla, Deputy Circle Officer, No. 6 Circle Administrative Office in Buthidaung Township

The Arakan Army (AA), which controls 14 townships in Rakhine State, including Muslim-majority Buthidaung and Maungdaw, has established the Arakan People’s Revolutionary Government, initiating administrative, judicial, tax collection, and public service mechanisms.

Local Muslims have been appointed within the administrative framework, with over 5,000 Muslim employees, including village/ward administrators, working under the Arakan People’s Government in Buthidaung and Maungdaw.

Naw Ji Mulla, a 36-year-old Muslim from Otheema village in Buthidaung, serves as Deputy Circle Officer at the No. 6 Circle Administration Office, overseeing both Muslim and Rakhine villages. In an interview with Irrawaddy reporter Lin Hein, Naw Ji Mulla discusses his role, the inclusive policies of the AA, and the challenges faced by the Muslim community in the region.

Interview Translation:

Q: What is your current role and please introduce yourself with your name.

A: I am Naw Ji Mulla, 36 years old, from Otheema village in Buthidaung Township, serving as Deputy Circle Officer at the No. 6 Circle Administration Office of the Arakan People’s Government. As Deputy Circle Officer, I prioritize addressing the needs and requests of villages and townships, especially since many people became displaced due to conflicts in 2023-24. They face challenges with housing and food, and I address these needs as much as possible. I also communicate directives from the central headquarters to the public in a unified manner.

Q: When and with what conviction did you join the Arakan Army (AA)?

A: I passed the 10th grade in 2011 and taught as a village-appointed teacher until 2018. During the COVID-19 period in 2019, when schools closed for a year, I applied to work at the Community and Family Service International (CFSI) in 2020 and served until June 31, 2023. Back then, the government restricted rural people from entering towns, labeling us as AA supporters or Rakhine, and even town Muslims were mobilized to prevent our entry. Despite applying four times for a general worker position at Otheema Primary School, I was denied because the government labeled us as “Bengali” and barred us from employment; now, with the opportunity to work as a Muslim in the Arakan People’s Government, I decided to be among the first to join.

Q: Were there already Muslim employees at the township office when you applied, and did they accept you immediately?

A: There were no Muslim employees yet; I was the first at the township office and am considered a senior in the administration department. The AA expressed happiness at my application and willingness to work together. They accepted not just me but everyone, which made me feel delighted and proud. Previously, I couldn’t even secure a general worker job paying 90,000 kyats, so being able to serve as a Deputy Township Officer in administration is a significant advantage for us Muslims.

Q: Do you also oversee Rakhine villages in your fieldwork?

A: Our township includes Rakhine villages like Kyet Yoe Pyin, Done Nyo, and Kya Nyo Pyin, about eight in total, while over 40 villages are Muslim-majority. Rakhine villagers provide as much help as possible, and they often show more care toward us than Muslim villagers do. Everyone accepts us warmly and openly.

Q: What is your view on the AA’s administration, and what do you want to say about it?

A: Previously, there was division and incitement between ethnic groups, with Rakhine and Muslims pitted against each other. Now, such divisions are gone. In Arakan, there are eight ethnic groups, and anyone with qualifications can openly work with the AA. I am delighted to have the opportunity to serve with dignity, regardless of ethnicity.

Q: How many Muslim employees serve under the AA in Buthidaung and Maungdaw, where Muslims are the majority?

A: Under the Arakan People’s Government, there are departments like the Auxiliary Police Force (AAP), AAA, AA, and a jury advisory group that includes Muslim elders from Buthidaung and Maungdaw for local consultations. I estimate over 5,000 Muslims work under the government. The majority are in village/ward administration and the AAP, which handles security with armed personnel. To avoid international criticism of Rakhine oppressing Muslims, the AA prioritizes Muslims in village administration and security roles.

Q: Which departments have the most Muslim employees?

A: Muslims work across all departments—immigration, administration, jury, education, and health—but the majority are in village/ward administration and the AAP, which focuses on security. This ensures systematic governance and counters propaganda about Muslim oppression.

Q: What suggestions do you have for the Arakan People’s Government?

A: There’s little to say as they’ve opened doors for Muslims to work based on qualifications and interests. They provide housing and support for those in need, so we have few complaints.

Q: What was your main motivation for joining the AA?

A: For over 70 years, the previous government oppressed us, denying Muslims education, employment, and labeling us “Bengali.” The new Arakan People’s Government allows all ethnic groups to serve together, which I appreciate and believe is unmatched. We faced hardships for generations, and now we can contribute to our country. I joined to serve Arakan with pride and dedication.

Q: As a Muslim in administration, what do you plan to do for your community?

A: Muslims serving in Arakan is new, and our educated youth aim to work unitedly to ensure harmony among all ethnic groups. We strive for a cohesive society where everyone can live peacefully.

Q: Human Rights Watch, Fortify Rights, and Muslim activists abroad claim Muslims in Buthidaung face travel restrictions, must pay to move between villages, and face killings or forced labor by the AA. Is this true, and what’s the situation on the ground?

A: Those abroad are playing politics and don’t understand the ground reality. As a Muslim in administration, I face no restrictions. During conflicts, we rescued Muslims ourselves. There’s no truth to claims of travel bans or extortion; anyone can verify this with locals. Inter-village travel is free, but township crossings require a recommendation letter for security due to ongoing threats, applicable to both Rakhine and Muslims. Documentation costs 1,000 kyats regardless of travel duration.

Q: Can overseas Muslim activists’ claims impact the ground situation?

A: Those abroad don’t know how Arakan is governed or how peacefully we coexist. They criticize us online for working with the AA, accusing us of being Rakhine followers, but we reject such division. As Arakan-born Muslims, we feel a duty to serve our country and see their claims as misunderstandings.

Q: What’s your view on Muslim armed groups like ARSA and RSO?

A: I believe ARSA and RSO aren’t fighting for a nation but cause suffering for Muslims. Their policies are flawed, targeting educated Muslims like teachers or clerics who disagree, even killing them brutally. Their authoritarian approach harms our community and lacks legitimacy.

Q: Why did ethnic conflicts occur in 2012 and 2017, and what’s needed to prevent them?

A: In 2012, I had just passed 10th grade. A rape case in Kyauk Ni Maw was used to incite Rakhine-Muslim tensions, spreading to Buthidaung and Maungdaw. The government fueled these divisions to prevent unity, as it threatened their control. With eight ethnic groups now working together under the AA, and everyone fulfilling their roles, I believe such conflicts won’t recur.

Q: How does the current situation compare to pre-2012, and is trust being restored?

A: The situation is better now. Pre-2012, Muslims had no access to free education or employment, despite claims otherwise. Now, the government and people share equal opportunities, with no oppression. As a Muslim Deputy Township Officer, I’m trusted to govern fairly, fostering harmony.

Q: Anything else to add?

A: We want peace and equal opportunities for all ethnic groups to serve with dignity. We reject division and urge foreign media and activists not to misrepresent our situation without understanding the ground reality.

Note: This interview was published by the Irrawaddy-Burmese Edition on September 10, 2025, using the term "Rohingya" and was translated by the GAN Team.