Villagers cheated by border security force in Maungdaw

Maungdaw, Arakan State: Burma’s border security force (Nasaka) summoned seven villagers to their camp yesterday because of renovation of their houses and building new houses. The villagers are cheated by the border security force (Nasaka) though they had already purchased permission by paying money, said a local elder.  

“The summoned villagers are identified as--- Ms Zamila Khatun (35), wife of Shobbir Ahmed, Moulvi Fazal Karim (60 ), Jubair ( Nasaka collaborator), Aman Ullah ( 20), son of Siradil  Islam,  Esuf (25), son of Mohamed Salam Mohamed Sayed (35) and Ms Fatema Khatun (35), wife of Shuna Ali, hailed from Maung Nama village of Maungdaw Township.”  

The current village Chairman of Maung Nama village tract Dil Mohamed, Nasaka collaborator Jubair and the Commander of Aung Mingala Nasaka camp jointly called them to the Nasaka camp to extort money again from the above mentioned villagers though they had already paid money for permission to build houses/shops or renovated, said a local trader preferring not to be named.

Ms Zamila paid Kyat 500,000 to Aung Mingla Nasaka Commander, Jubair (Nasaka collaborator) and village Chairman Deen Mohamed in August 2011 for giving permission to build her house. But, they did not inform to the Township Administration officer.  It is necessary to get permission from Township officer. It was not the fault of Ms Zamila, said another Businessman from the locality.     

“Moulvi Fazal Karim is the father-in-law of Jubair (Nasaka collaborator), so he did not take any permission to build his house from the concerned authority. And also Jubair (notorious Nasaka collaborator) built a shop using his power.”    

“Aman Ullah paid Kyat 250,000 for permission to build his house to the gang of three and Mohamed Sayed renovate his shop since 1997, but he was accused that he has renovated recently. Ms Fatema Khatun also paid Kyat 500,000 for building her house to the said gang.”

Another villager Yousuf paid Kyat 600,000 to the gang of three for permission of house building. Later this was informed to the officer of Sarapa (Military Intelligence) by them, but the Sarapa officer referred the case to the Nasaka camp after interrogation. He had to pay Kyat 2.5 million at the Nasaka camp again. Before paying money, the victim was forced to submit an application to the Nasaka camp that he did not take any permission before building his house, and also to admit that was his mistake, said a relative of the victim. 

“Nasaka using power cheated the villagers by this way or that way and extorted money.  But nobody came to straight forwards to rescue them. The above villagers will pay money to the Nasaka again; otherwise, they will be punished.”

“Rohingyas are not allowed to build or renovate any structure including house, mosque, Madrasa, even a cow shed in northern Arakan without permission.” 

“However, the villagers built or renovated their houses and other structures by taking permission from the authority concerned. They have to pay huge money for getting permission.”

“Nasaka always makes plans to extort money from villagers and how to make them to engage in trouble continuously,” said a local youth.