A newly posted Burmese Police officer has been attempting to cripple the livelihoods of the marginalized, isolated and poor Rohingya community in Pauktaw Township since his transfer to the place, according to the local reports.

The Lieutenant police officer named U Tun Thar has been posted in ‘Anna Raing (Anauk Ywe)’ station nearby the camps of internally displaced people (IDP) reportedly by the district police.

Since the violence began against the Rohingya in June 2012, the locals as well as IDPs in ‘Anna Raing’ have been surviving only by fishing in the river and sea and humanitarian help occasionally. However, as the new police officer arrived, he has started to beat the Rohingya fishermen and been listing down all the boat-owners in order to extort money from them.

“When we come out with boats, he abuses and beats us. He is preventing us from going out for fishing. He’s oppressing us a lot.

He has been posted here by the District Police. He’s very cruel. Our fishermen can’t move around. Consequently, many people are facing difficulties to make their daily ends meet. Few are even starving,” said a local in Pauktaw Township.

“We appeal to the higher authority of Myanmar to take proper and effective action against this police officer. We want him to be transferred away from here,” he added.