Villager arrested for guest receiving at his house in Maungdaw

Maungdaw, Arakan State:  A villager was arrested and extorted money by Burma’s border security force ( Nasaka)  for receiving a guest in his house today, said a close relative of the victim. 
“The victim is identified as Sayed Hussain (50), son of Zar Muluk, hailed from Maung Nama village under Nasaka Headquarters (Kawar Bill) of Maungdaw Township.”
Today, at about 2: 00 am, at night, a group of Nasaka from Aung Min Gala Nasaka out-post of Maungdaw north led by Captain Aung Myo Than  went to Maung Nama village accompanied by Village Administration officer Shobbir Ahmed where they entered the victim house to search a guest inside the house, but, they did not find the guest, said another local villager preferring not to be named.
“As a result, the Nasaka captain arrested the house owner Sayed Hussain and  detained in the Nasaka out-post  camp.”
In Arakan State, for Rohingya community, the guest receivers or house owners have to inform to the local Village Administration officer, if the guest stays at night, otherwise, the Nasaka will fine the house owner, said a local schoolteacher.
Today, a guest from nearby village came to Sayed Huaass’s house at about 10:00 am and returned to his home after having food, at around 3:00 pm. But, the Nasaka’s collaborator or informer did not know the guest went back to his home. So, the informer mistakenly informed that one guest came to the victim’s house, according to a local youth.
“The house owner or guest receiver did not need to inform about his guest to the local Admin or Nasaka because the guest did not stay at night.”
However, today, at around 1:00 pm, the arrestee was released after paying Kyat 160,000 to the Nasaka commander, said another close relative of the victim.
A local politician said, “The Nasaka commander knows that the victim does not commit any crime. Why the Nasaka officer extorts such a big amount from the victim. So, it is a deliberate action against the Rohingya community.”
Similarly, Nasaka from Udaung Nasaka-outpost camp arrested a Rohingya who visited his relative’s house – same village, same quarters and near his house- for not informing the concerned authority on January 20, according to an elder from Udaung.
Abdu Rahaman, 25, son of Nur Ahmed hailed from Baringa Dyel  (village) was arrested for visiting his relative’s house and detained in the Udaung out post camp where the Nasaka demand  huge money which was not able to pay by arrestee. So, he was transferred to commanding officer camp of area number 8, according to a village admin office member.

No jobs and business in Rathedaung

Rathedaung, Arakan State: There are no jobs and businesses for the Rohingya community in Rathedaung Townships because of local Rakhine community and concerned authorities don’t give permission to do business and to work for their survival, said a local elder on condition of anonymity.
“The Rohingya community has not been getting permission to work since sectarian violence in June 2012, between Rakhine and Rohingya communities.”
At present, thousands of Rohingyas are facing shortage of food, daily work and businesses where the Rohingya are living in the villages namely--- Thami Hla, Sango Daung, Koi Chang village tracts and other villages under the Rathedaung Township, said a local trader from the locality.
“We are likely living in a big jail in Arakan State, we can’t move from one place to another, so we have been facing many difficulties to feed our family members.”
According to some farmers, most of the farmers couldn’t grow their crops in the said villages in the winter season because of arbitrary harassments by the concerned authorities and Rakhine community. Similarly, they also couldn’t grow paddy in the rainy season last year.
At present, poor people and widows are going door to door for begging, if they don’t beg one day, they will starve. The concerned authorities and Rakhine community push the Rohingya community into beggars.
The villagers did not get any help from any quarter whose houses were not completely destroyed in violence, said a local leader.
Since occurring clashes in June 2012, hundreds of Rohingya Muslims had been killed by the Rakhines and Burma’s security forces. But, thousands of Rohingyas had already been displaced from their own villages as well as many Rohingyas have been languishing in different jails in Arakan state, said a reliable source. “These people are not getting any support from INGOs and UNHCR like other Rakhine community are getting aids from it.”

Facing difficult to cut thatches in Maungdaw south

Maungdaw, Arakan State: Rohingya community have been facing difficult to cut thatches from the mountain side for fearing of harass by Rakhines – news settler – living near the mountain side, said a farmer on condition of anonymity.

“There are some thatch fields in the mountains side which Rohingya community use for roping their homes to protect rain drop in the rainy season.”
“We are very worry to enter the mountain side for collecting fire woods and thatches ( only within season only)as Natala villagers of Sommona and Udaung – near our villages- don’t allow us to enter the mountain side, according to an owner of a thatch field on condition of anonymity.
“Our thatch fields were blocked by the said Natala villagers after they settled – four year ago - near our villages, but we  managed with them to cut the thatches after giving 5000 to 10,000  to the Natala villagers.”
“If we don’t able to cut thatches in the winter season, we will face so many problems in the rainy season. We are not able to stay inside the home for rain fall.”
According to different sources, after occurring sectarian violence last year, the Rohingya were not allowed to grow paddy by the concerned authority in the rainy season. So, thousands of Rohingya have been facing shortage of food in Arakan State.
Villagers told the Kaladan Press Network (KPN) from Aley Than Kyaw, “We want to withdraw restriction of movement, arbitrary arrest, harassments and we are also seeking permission from the quasi-civilian government to access mountain side to collect firewood and work freely in Arakan State, Burma.