Nasaka commander’s harasses Taungbru sub-town

Maungdaw, Arakan State: The commander of Nasaka Area No. 3 in Maungdaw Township has been harassing the local Rohingya people and extorting money while creating false and fabricated cases, said a trader from the locality on condition of anonymity.
“The new Nasaka commander recently came from Rangoon, and he was appointed as the commander of Nasaka Area No. 3 at Taungbru sub-town. He himself was accompanied by other Nasaka personnel from the camp. They went to the local village at midnight while the villagers were sound asleep and arrested several local villagers over many kinds of allegations such as illegally holding mobile sets, having connections with relatives abroad, renovating porches or homes without permission, illegally crossing the border and beihg involved in human trafficking, etc. So far, except for him, no Nasaka commander has gone into villages at night for such kinds of operations.”
“After going into the villages, he seized the family lists of some villagers. But, the commander already had lists that were provided by his agents in advance. Then the commander asked the villagers to go to their camp the next day to take back their family lists.”
“When the villagers went to the Nasaka camp, the personnel returned the family lists to the villagers who were able to pay money. The Nasaka commander had already filed cases against some of the villagers, and they had to pay money according to their cases. So the Nasaka forced the villagers to pay from Taka 10,000 to 100,000 according to the severity of the case. In this way, the Nasaka commander is collecting money from the villagers indiscriminately. It is very strange that he extorted Bangladeshi currency instead of Burmese Kyat.”
For instance, the Nasaka commander extorted Taka 50,000 from Kunsipyin Madrasa on 2 November over the allegation that he had a mobile set, Taka 20,000 from Ms. Nur Seban over the allegation that she was holding mobile set, Taka 100,000 from Mv. Azad Ali over the allegation that he had a mobile set, and Taka 50,000 from Shofi Ullah over the allegation that a person was absent from his family list. All of these victims belong to Kunsipyin Village Tract under Nasaka Area No. 3, said local school teacher who declined to be named.
“Besides, Anwar Islam, the son of Ahamadu, a very poor man, who is still detained in the Nasaka camp, hails from Kunsipyin Village tract and has no possibility to be holding a mobile set. He was arrested 17 days ago.”
“Another man named Mv. Mohamed Tayub from the said village tract was arrested by Nasaka officers four days ago for not giving one Bira (80 pieces) of betel leaf. One Bira of betel leaf costs Kyat 400. He is still in detention at the Nasaka camp.”
The Nasaka went to the villages at about 12 midnight, and continued their work until 4:30 am. They surrounded the whole village in order to control the villagers from entering or leaving the village. They collected Kyat 10,000 from a man who was absent from his house. Actually, he went to another village with permission to pay a visit to his relatives.
This is a kind of inhumane harassment when the whole village is sleeping. The women are frightened when they see soldiers at night in their homes, said a businessman.
The extortion is continuing under the supervision of the area commander and local Military Intelligence officers. Half of the villagers earnings are going to the concerned authorities’ accounts, said a local elder who asked not to be named.

What will November 18 mean for the NLD and Burma?

(Commentary) – The possibility of the NLD re-registering as a legal political party is high when about 106 members of the central committee of the National League for Democracy (NLD) from 13 states and regions will meet on November 18 in Rangoon to decide the issue.

How the new Burmese government treats Aung San Suu Kyi and the NLD is a measure of how its move toward democracy is progressing. Photo: Mizzima

Most young people in Burma will likely welcome the NLD if it decides to re-register, but many older Burmese might prefer the NLD to take a little bit more time to monitor and evaluate the development of Burmese politics under President Thein Sein’s government. The fact is that there is a gap between the Burmese young and old on how they view politics, and how to deal with the government.

Regardless, the NLD needs to make policy and strategy changes since it no longer faces former dictator Than Shwe, but rather a new generation that looks more moderate and flexible than their previous boss. The NLD will choose the path that it believes is best on November 18.
The reason the government amended the Political Party Registration Law and the reason the NLD is considering to re-register are likely related to the talks between President Thein Sein and Aung San Suu Kyi on August 19, 2011.
There are interesting questions on how the NLD will go forward after November 18? Would it re-register as a lpolitical party and enter into elections, or would it decide not to re-register and watch the development of Burma’s politics, meanwhile focusing on humanitarian work? Its decision will tell us how much trust there is between the NLD and new Burmese government.
The trust between Suu Kyi and President Thein Sein seems established after the two met on August 19. But they kept their talk confidential. There must be the reason to keep it confidential. Maybe, they made a promise to change Burma or they shared sensitive information about changing Burma. Or they agreed to meet again. Or they made a deal that promised to amend the political parties registration laws in order for the NLD to re-register or run as a political party, or about releasing political prisoners, and in return, Suu Kyi agreed not to encourage mass demonstrations, and to tell international communities including Asean members, that Burma is changing positively.
Following their meeting, Suu Kyi credited President Thein Sein, saying she thinks he really wants to bring positive changes to Burma. Also, the talks between Union Minister Aung Kyi and Suu Kyi continued. Suu Kyi is allowed to communicate with international communities. She is also allowed to do her political activity without restrictions. Media censorship has relaxed somewhat. The government granted amnesty to 6,359 prisoners including about 200 political prisoners recently. Reportedly, the government will grant amnesty again soon.
The ethnic groups are watching carefully. And, they’re wondering if the NLD re-registered and worked with Burmese government, how seriously would they work to solve ethnic issues?
The government knows what is needed to establish good relationships with international communities such as the U.N., USA and Asean. They measure Burma’s progress toward democracy based on how it deals with Suu Kyi’s NLD party.  That’s why the government started talking to her.
Ex-major Sai Thein Win, who leaked information about Burma’s nuclear work, said, “The NLD should re-register as a legal political party, and contest in the national Parliament. I didn’t vote in 1990. Like me, there are many young people who didn’t vote in 1990. The NLD should register as a political party so that many people who didn’t vote in the 1990 election can vote now.
“The Burmese military will make sure former Snr-Gen Than Shwe and his family are safe and their property is protected. There is a risk if their security and property are in danger that a military coup could happen at any time because he can still influence the military.”
Many Burmese including exiles are excited about what the NLD will decide on November 18. Most Burmese people will likely continue to support the NLD whether it decides to re-register or not. Suu Kyi’s party owns the hearts of the people in Burma.
The popularity of the NLD cannot be challenged politically. They will beat anyone as long as the elections are fair and free. Even if they just work as a social organization or NGO; they will still shake up Burmese politics.
But the NLD should enter the political battles at the Union, regional and local levels and not limit its work to social activities, even though that’s also a part of politics. That’s what November 18 will mean for the NLD and for Burma.

Rohingya faces difficulty to move in Maungdaw

Maungdawm, Arakan State: The Rohingya community is facing recently difficulty to move from one place to another in Maungdaw, said a village trader from the locality who denied to be named. 

“Today, at about 10:00 am, a group of Burma’s border security force( Nasaka) from Nari Bill Nasaka camp under the Nasaka area No.6, of Maungdaw Township went to the nearby Amina Bazar and barred the Rohingya villagers to go to market without National Identity cards. There was no advanced warning to the villagers regarding the market goers.”

“Suddenly, the Nasaka went to a road nearby Mina Bazar, and barred the villagers to go to market without ID cards. Villagers are surprised that they have never carried ID cards to go to market. Therefore, villagers returned to their homes without any marketing or selling any goods in the market, said a villager from the locality.

“This is nothing, but only harassment to the Rohingya villagers,” said a local youth.

“The Rohingya are moving within the town like markets and villages without carrying their ID cards. No one ask them the ID cards when they went to market.”

Another local elder said, “It is a deliberate action against the Rohingya community.” 

There are Bazaar days on Saturday and Tuesday in a week, so that the local people can buy and sell their goods and fulfill their necessities.

On the other hand, a group of Rakhine youth gathered in front of Maungdaw Juma Mosque (Big Mosque) with alcohol (local wine) bottles to drink at about 9:00pm yesterday night where some Rohingya youth opposed such kind of behavior are not allowed in front of Islam religious area which become tension  between them. Some Rohingya elders informed to the concerned authority about the event and the authority solved peacefully the tension. The Rakhine youth groups left the place, said an elder from Maungdaw.

“The complaint was filed in Maungdaw police station and informed other concerned authority.”