ROHINGYA MUSLIMS PLIGHT: NO LAW AND ORDER IN MAUNGDAW

         Maungdaw, 19 Muharram 1434/03 December 2012 (KPN/MINA) – Police officer from Maungdaw police station entered to a public compound without holding search warrant on December 2, morning, according to a relative of victim. “U Tin Hla, the police officer entered the compound of Rafique – a teashop owner – without search warrant and arrested Rafique and his son.”

         The police officer filed a case which was complained by two Rakhine women –municipal cleaner- for throwing pebble to them from the teashop, but no one was hit by pebble, said an elder from Maungdaw.

       “The teashop was situated near the clock tower junction and it is only Rohingya teashop at the junction and the police officer is from Rathedaung native.”

        In the  evening, the father and son were released after taking 300,000 kyat (US$351.91).

       “We are not involved throwing pebble and it was not hit to them, the Rakhine women made false allegation to harass to us.”

        Similarly, Khin Zaw -Township judge – and his son Than zaw who drive a car hit a bicycle owned by a Rohingya near clock tower at about 4:00pm, said the owner of bicycle.

       “I had parked my bicycle beside the road and the judge’s car also parked, but after a while the car hit my bicycle without any fault from my side. The police who are duty at the junction, left the place after accident. Where is the law and order for Rohingya in Maungdaw. A judge can do whatever he want, no one take action for crime.”

Nasaka resumes extortion money in Maungdaw

        Burma (Myanmar)’s border security force, or Nasaka resumed extortion money from Rohingya villages in Maungdaw Township since November last week, a trader from the locality  who denied to be named.

       Money extortion from Rohingya villagers by Nasaka personnel after checking family lists was nearly stopped after broken out violence between Rohingya and Rakhine Communities in June this year.

        “Since last week of November 2012, the Nasaka personnel of Nasaka camp No. 14 of Nasaka area No.6 of Maungdaw north went to the villages under its at every night and checked the family lists of the villagers.”

       “Many villagers went into hiding when the Nasaka entered the villages because of fear of arrest and torture. So, the Nasaka asked the rest of the family members to pay money for who are absent from the lists or from homes.”

       The Nasaka collected Kyat 100,000 to 400,000 (US$117.30 to US$469.21) if the villager is rich and Kyat 20,000 to 50,000 (US$23.46 to US$58.65) if the villager is poor per each.  The situation of Arakan is very bad for Rohingya community, villagers have no jobs, no business, at this moment,   Rohingya people are not able to pay the money. However, at last, villagers paid the money after selling their ornaments, cattle and even selling their lands as fear of tortures. They have no alternative way to choose, said a local Business man preferring not to be named.

       If the Nasaka does not get money, the arrestee will be detained in their camp along with torture.  There is no one to come forwards to rescue the Rohingya. Nasaka is daily observing the functions of the villagers by making blocks in Maungdaw Township. There are eight Nasaka areas in Maungdaw Townships and one Nasaka area is controlled by one Major along with is forces, said an ex-Nasaka aide on condition of anonymity.

      There is no one house is left without taking money by Nasaka In Maungaw and Buthidaung Townships. So, Rohinhya means culprits in front of government authorities.

     “How many days, we will stay alive in Arakan State, in such way,” said a village elder from Maungdaw Township. (T/R-022/R-006)