Wednesday 7 December 2011

Camp police destroys unregistered refugee shack

Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh: Kutupalong registered camp police personnel had destroyed and fired a refugee shack of unregistered refugee camp on December 4, according to a refugee elder from the camp.

“The camp police personnel with plain cloth went to Mawgu’ shack - a unregistered refugee -  to arrest  with false allegation to extort money from him where the wife of Mawgu and his daughter with other female refugee attacked him  for not showing arrest warrant and without uniform on December 3 at about 9:00pm.”

“The police who was attacked by refugee female appeared with uniform in the camp on December 4 morning to searched Mawgu’s shack and had beaten the Mawgu’s wife and daughter when the police not found Mawgu in the shack.”

“The police personnel also burned all the belongings of Mawgu inside the shack which also destroyed the shack.”

“Both female are seriously injured for beating by police personnel and are taking treatment in MSF (Holland) clinic,” said a female refugee near their shack.

It is learned that the police personnel with cooperation of police inspector Jawnail are trying to extort money from refugee with help of police aide of refugee in the camp.

“We had fled from our home land for discrimination and harassment of Burmese authority. Here, we also are facing same as inside Arakan in the camp.”

“We came Bangladesh for our safety and security of our life, but here we also are facing same as Burma, where shall we will get our safety and security.”

Burma and Bangladesh exchange prisoners

Teknaf, Bangladesh: Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB) handed over 19 released prisoners to Nasaka (Burma’s border security force) on December 3, while Burmese border security force (Nasaka) handed over 35 Bangladeshi prisoners through flag meeting between Nasaka and BGB at Teknaf, according to BGB official.
Flag meeting between Nasaka and BGB at Teknaf, the released prisoners from Bangladesh jail

Major A. Khoda Shamshur Zaman Mohammad Ariful of BGB Battalion # 42 of Teknaf led 10 members delegation from Bangladesh side while a nine-member delegation was led by Major San Win Khaing, the commander, Nasaka area No.6 of Burma side. Major Kyaw Aung, the commander of Nasaka area No.7 of Maungdaw Township was also participated in the meeting.

The step was carried out "at the request of the Bangladesh government and for the sake of friendly ties and relations between the two countries and considering their personal affairs."

Burma has released 35 Bangladeshis from jail as a goodwill gesture ahead of Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina's planned visit to the nation, according to bdnews24.com.

Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina will be the first visit in the last eight years by any Bangladeshi leader to the Burma.

In 2003, then Prime Minister Khaleda Zia toured the country.

The visit also comes after Burmese deputy commander-in-chief Lieutenant-General Soe Win visited Bangladesh late last month.

The Released Prisoners (RPs) were arrested in Bangladesh from many places in earlier and were jailed in various jails. However, they have been staying in the jails, though their jail terms had been completed as no one had appeared to accept them, according to jail official.

According to a prisoner from Cox’s Bazar, there are about 500 released prisoners in Cox’s Bazar, Bandarban and other jails.  

Among the released prisoners, some are Khamis, Rakhines, Chakmas and Rohingyas.

Nasaka also handed over 35 prisoners to BGB who were arrested by Nasaka earlier while fishing in Naff River and wood cutting from Burma-Bangladesh border.

Creating plan to extort money from villagers in Maungdaw

Maungdaw, Arakan State: The Burma’s border security force (Nasaka) Commander of Nasaka area No.6 of Maungdaw Township recently created a new plan to extort money from villagers of his area, said a trader from the locality preferring not to be named.

“The deputy commander of Nasaka area No.6 summoned some of villagers today in the morning who have built houses or shops within Nasaka area before 16 years ago after getting permission from concerned local Nasaka area.”

“After their arrival at the camp, the Commander asked the villagers to give money who did not require permission from Township Peace and Development Council (TPDC) Chairman, now the Township Administration Officer (TAO).”

According to villagers, they did not need permission from TPDC officer at that time. They only need permission from local Nasaka officer. So, they have no authorized paper from TPDC officer. But, at present, the local Nasaka officer demands money from the villagers from those who have no document of TPDC Chairman.

A village elder said, “It is a creation to extort money by the Nasaka officer. It is a kind of cheating to the villagers by using of power and their positions.”

Another local trader said on condition of anonymity, “Nasaka officers are always thinking, how they will get money from the local Rohingya villagers by making new plans or using power, implicating false and fabricated cases against the villagers.”

They have no fear from higher authorities as they let them to do anything against the Rohingya community. They (higher authorities) do not take any action against the culprits, said a local teacher referring not to be named.

“The local Nasaka officer demands Kyat 100,000 from a shop and Kyat 200,000 to 300,000 from a house. The shops were built in the villages or by the sides of the local roads. There are nine villages in that Nasaka area No.6, and at least over 50 houses and shops had been built in a village. So, the Nasaka officer will get a lot of money from the local Rohingya villagers without any investment.”

Bangladesh authorities arrest over 1451 Rohingyas in 2011

Teknaf, Bangladesh: Bangladesh authorities arrested over 1451 Rohingyas along the Bangladesh-Burma border within eleven month of 2011, according to different sources.

“Mostly Rohingyas were arrested from different entry points of border areas and pushed back to Burma by the concerned authorities.”

Among the arrestees, thirteen Rohingyas were sent to Cox’s Bazar jail after being filed case as they had involved in smuggling.

In January 2011, Bangladesh authorities arrested 73-Rohingya, 76-Rohingya in February, 70-Rohingya in March,132-Rohingya in April, 255-Rohingya in May, 132-Rohingya in June, 73-Rohingya in July, 128-Rohingya in Auguast, 161-Rohingya in September and 261-Rohingya in November 2011.

Later, all arrested were pushed back to Burma after being investigated by the concerned authorities, according to officials.

An aide of concerned authority said on condition of anonymity, “Mostly Rohingya people come to Bangladesh from Burma to see their relatives in the refugee camps and also come to get better treatment in Bangladesh.”

“In Arakan State, Burma, Rohingya people don’t able go to Aykab (Sitwee) for better medical treatment for movement restriction imposed by military junta and more expense to reach the Akyab..”

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Maung daw, Arakan state, Myanmar (Burma)
I am an independent man who voted to humanitarian aid.