Selection or election for village administration officer post in Buthidaung

Buthidaung, Arakan: An election for village administration officer post was held in Buthidaung Township, on December 8. But the election became selection after bribing money to concerned authority, said a village elder from the locality on condition of anonymity.

“An election for village administration officer was held in Sein Nyin Pya (Sein Dee Pran) village, Buthidaung south with four competitors - Abdul Hashim (graduate), Mohamed Sadek (matriculation), Sidique Ahmed (under matriculation), and Nurul Islam (Class III).”

The election was held by the order of district administration officer as the former administration officer was sacked from his post earlier due to corruption. But, the election was held under supervision of Buthidaung Township administration officer.  

Villagers peacefully voted in the election and Abdul Hashim got most votes and Nurul Islam got the least votes among the participants. But, when the result was declared Nurul Islam had won the election. Therefore he became the village administration officer of the village.

“Nurul Islam is USDP member and also bribed two million Kyat to the Township Administration officer  before the election,” said a local trader who denied to be named.

“Nurul Islam is neither speaking nor writing in Burmese. How does he rule his village? Local villagers said that one of the USDP members namely Mohamed Noor will do all the works on behalf of Nurul Islam,” said another local businessman.

“This is a selection, not election,” said the township administration officer while villagers asked , according to a schoolteacher who denied to be named.

“The officer selected the uneducated man means they authority wants the village administration officer to do anything what the higher authority ordered.”

“People across the country and international community said that there were some changing in Burma, but there is no changing in northern Arakan and the political persecutions against the Rohingya community is going on,” said a local politician.