Security force detains seven villagers in Maungdaw

Maungdaw, Arakan State: Burma border security force (Nasaka) personnel arrested and kept in detained seven Rohingya villagers on March 4, over allegation of involving in March 1, Rohingya murder- known as Natala murdered, according to a businessman from Alay Than Kyaw.
 “The arrested have been identified as--- Yakub (45), son of Erashed, Ataullah (25), son of Yasin, Monu Meah (60), Esa Ali, Md. Younus (20), son of Kalu, Abdul Kader (45), son of Kala Meah, Mohamed Siddik (50), son of Kala and Sayedullah (43), son of Ahar Zaman.  They all hailed from Udaung village of Maungdaw Township.”
Two Rohingyas were arrested from the village and others five were arrested from the paddy filed – grow winter paddy where the water is available - by the Nasaka personnel of Nasaka area No. 7 when the villagers were supplying water to their paddy fields in the morning, said a relative of one of the victims. .
The arrestees are innocent people and daily workers. They don’t know about the event of March 1, said an elder from the village.
However, five villagers of them were released today morning  after paying money and two remain villagers are being kept in the Nasaka camp and their relatives were called to the camp by the Nasaka officer, but the result is unknown, according to villagers.
After arrest, the villagers were severely tortured in the Nasaka camp. They are now taking private treatment at the village, according to another relative of the victims.
At present, Nasaka personnel are trying to arrest more innocent Rohingya villagers over the issue of murder case. So, many villagers become in panic and fleeing from the houses to avoid arrest.
Actually, a Rohingya villager was killed on March 1, by the Natala villagers while he went to his betel garden. Though the murder case was clearly committed by Natala villagers backing by Nasaka, the Rohingya villagers are blamed or accused in the murder case, said a local elder.
The Nasaka are getting money from the villagers, to get money, Nasaka tortured and detained villagers and  villagers become panic, some villagers will flee the native place to avoid arrest and torture. These are the tactics of the Nasaka to drive out Rohingya people from the Arakan soil. It is a dangerous policy, but many people ignore it, said a local political leader from Maungdaw Town.

High officials collect money from appointed village administration officers

Maungdaw, Arakan State: High officials from Maungdaw have collected huge amount of money from new appointed village administration officers sine last February 15, said a village administrator officer who paid huge money to high officers.

“The high officials – U Kyi San, Township administration officer and U Aung Myint Soe, District administration officer- were collecting huge amount of money from the candidate who had run village administration officer election and getting number three position in the election. After receiving the money form the last number candidate, issued appointment letter for post of village administration officer.”
“Even, the high numbers of getting votes from the villagers in the village administration officer election, had also to pay money (starting from one million to 6 million) to the high officers to get official appointment letter, according to a former village administration officer from Maungdaw.
The high officials demanded and collected 6 million kyats to issue an official appointment letter to the person who want the position in Myinn Hlut village tract.
The officials are not collecting money from Rakhine who contested the election, by forced of authority inside the Rohingya majority village and automatically appointed for Village administration officer even he didn’t get any vote in the election, said a politician from maungdaw.
“This is not free and fear election or democratically elected the person, the villagers didn’t want the person, but the high officials appointed with their selection. It is new Burma reform to democracy system in northern Arakan. Is the northern Arakan inside Burma, if yes, why the “laws and orders” are different from other side of Burma.”
The person, who had gotten village administration officer appoint, will recollect his money from the villagers with legal way or illegal. How, the country or state or place will be enjoy with democracy which Burma government saying to move and reform democracy, said a school teacher from Maungdaw.

Secrete killing increase in Maungdaw

Maungdaw, Arakan State: Secrete killing of Rohingya community is going increased in Maungdaw since beginning of 2013, according to an officer from Maungdaw, who didn’t want to named.

The dead body of Sayed Ullah on the ground


“There are more than 13 Rohingyas and one Rakhine were killed by unknown miscreants, but most of Rohingya believed the killing was made by security forces, Natala villagers and case-fire arms group – Rakhine.”
The authority also didn’t able to find out or arrest, the killers of innocence people- Rohingyas and Rakhine-and the situation in northern Arakan seen, Rohingyas are sufferer and facing so many harassment but some Rohingyas stand to fight for their rights and some leaves their home land, the officer said.
Sayed Ullah (35), son of Mohamed Siddique hailed from Udaung village under Burma border security force (Nasaka) area 8, Maungdaw is a Rohingya – betel leaves farmer – was killed in his betel leaves farm house on March 1 at about 10:00pm, was found on March 2, morning, according to a village administration office member.
“The betel leaves farm house is near the mountain side and Natala village ( Rakhine) and the Rohingya community believed he was killed by Natala villagers as there were only moving two kind of people – Rakhine (Natala) and security personnel.”
Some of his colleagues –watching their farms- saw some Natala villagers were rounding near Sayed’s farms and heard some voice but they were not able to check Sayed’s farms as it is too dark, said one of Sayed colleague.
In the morning, his colleagues found Sayed was dead, laying on the ground with dagger wounded.
Police personnel from Alaythan Kyaw went to the spot after getting information, but the police didn’t do anything and not released the dead body nor to send to the hospital.
Later, the dead body was released to Sayed’s family to take to their home where they will bury in the village graveyard. But, the relatives had to pay money to the village administration officer ( Rakhine) to do this, said an elder from the village.
Similarly, Abdul Rahaman, son of Abdul Hakhim hailed from Kiliadaung village  was killed by unknown miscreants while he was watching his cow and buffalo in the grassing ground  on February 28, according to a watch dog of killing Rohingya in Northern Arakan.
“The Rohingyas are killing one by one each day in daytimes or night, in the field or villages but nobody care of Rohingya killing even the law enforcement and no one was arrest since the New Year (2013) started.”
Besides, Two Rohingyas on February 26, by Natalan Villagers, four Rohingya minor children from one family on February 9 by unknown, four Rohingyas killed inside custody of Nasaka camp under area number 5 and  one Rohingya on January 28 by army personnel of LIBs 352. One Rakhine killed on February 9 by unknown. The authority are arresting Rohingya community for this Rakhine with false allegation and no action for so many Rohingyas were killed  in the same times –later and before. It seen, the Rohingya community from northern Arakan are not human being, no law and order for them, no need to follow the basic Human rights, according to a politician from Maungdaw.
“Burma well-known politician and rights activist said “Law and order need to restore in northern Arakan”. Yes, it need for people from northern Arakan - Rohingya and Rakhine- to stay peacefully, but now it look, only for Rakhine not for Rohingya.”

No religious freedom in Maungdaw

Maungdaw, Arakan State: The concerned authority of Maungdaw south declared people can enjoy to perform their religious freely, but the Burma border security force (Nasaka) arrested a person who performed his religious duty in the religious place on February 27, according to a village administration officer who denied his named.

“Abu Fayas , 55, son of Lal Mohad hailed from Warr Cha village, under Nasaka area number 7, was arrested after performed his religious duty in a Mosque after sunset time.”
The Nasaka charged him for performing religious duty inside the Mosque, but he performed outside of Mosque, in the mosque compound. The Nasaka asked him to settle and they will free him to go. He refused to pay money as the commander declared that can performed religious duty inside the compound of Mosque, said an elder from village.
“The Nasaka toke him to their outpost camp where the Nasaka officer, Military intelligent (Sarapa) and special branch of police (SB) were asking him huge amount of money to release. Later, the village admin officer and elders manage to release him from custody of Nasaka, paying huge amount of money.”
The commanding officer- Aung Naing Oo-  area number 7, declared to the people that people can performed their religious duty inside the compound of Mosque, but the villagers must return and help while the Nasaka will collect information through digital photograph and finger print on February 25, according to a student who attend the meeting.
“If you are not willing to help us at that time, we will do ourselves by force or other ways to get the print and photo,” said the commander.
 When asked Nasaka area number 7 commanding office about the declaration and extorted of money, but the officer declared that the office issued order for freedom of religious and they are not taking money from people.

Security force harass Rohingya on the road

Maungdaw, Arakan State: Security forces – police, Hluntin and Nasaka – harassed Rohingya community who were going to and from Maungdaw market on Shwezar bridge on February 23, according to a politician from Maungdaw.

“The security forces arrested 100 Rohingyas and kept in the outpost box near the bridge and all the Rohingyas who remain on the road returned back to their villages.”
The arrestees were sent to the police station where their bodies were searched and hadn’t found anything on them. Then, the security forces toke all the money from their pockets, said a victim form the group.
“When, asked the officers, about the charge, the officers didn’t reply anything us. The officers deal with us as inhuman being.”
“The officers collected our name and address and sent the list to the village administration officers to verify the Rohingya. After receiving verification, the officers released us. We had our ID cards and travel document, why again to verify from village admin. We are not outsider, we are living in our village since long.”
After releasing from police station, the Rohingya went to Township office and district office about the matter, but, the officers said only it is for security. The township officer and district officer are trying to drive out Rohingya from their home villages as the two officers are Rakhine community and may be it is the order of upper or their own, said the politician.
Similarly, the security force on duty on the bridge –near Nyaung Chaung- on the Maungdaw –Alay Than Kyaw highways, collected 200 kyats per person who crossed the bridge. The security force collect 500 kyats from tawlar ( three wheels taxi) and 1000 kyas from vehicle, said a driver who ply on this road.
“We complain to the concerned authority, but no action was taken to them. Even the district officer and town officer did not give any attention  on it after complaining about the toll.”  

Tea shop burned down, security harass Rohingya in Maungdaw south

Maungdaw, Arakan State: A Rakhine’s tea shop was burned down by unknown miscreants in Maungdaw south on February 26, at about 9:00 pm and concerned security force started harassment against the Rohingyas community, said a villager admin officer who denied to be named.
“The tea shop - situated inside the Udaung market under Nasaka area number 8 – owned by Myo Chit, a Rakhine community.”
Burma border security force (Nasaka) personnel arrested a Rohingya shop worker - Abdu Rahaman, 10, son of Goffar - from the market, on said night with suspicion of set on fire the tea shop and detained in the Udaung Nasaka custody, said a shop owner from market who denied to be named.
“The security force listed to arrest more Rohingya from the village, so, the Rohingya community from Udaung are not staying in the village for fear of arrest.”
“No Rohingya involved in the accident as they are not able to move at night for Nasaka and Rakhines, who ply around the village at night,” according to village administration officer.
A Hindu community – the owner of a shop which is closed to teashop – declared the fire broke out from teashop’s stove and didn’t see anyone while fire broke out as Hidu shop was open at that time.
Besides, another Rohingya namely Abdullah (18), son of Molauna Jubair – watching his crop in the field- was arrested by Udaung Nasaka out post on February 26 and released after taking thousands of kyats, said a closed relative of victim.
According to different sources, it is a kind of tactic to harass and extort money the Rohingya community by concerned authorities and Rakhines.

Two Rohingyas brutally killed in Maungdaw south

Maungdaw, Arakan State: Two Rohingyas were brutally killed by a group of Natala villager on February 26, said an elder from the village.
Mohamed Sayed (43), son of Amir Hamza and Mohamed Rashid (32) son of Lalu Meah, hailed from Nurullah Para (village tract) of Maungdaw south, were killed by Natala villager – Rakhine – armed by authority for their security.
The authority – Township administration officer, U Kyi San and District administration officer, U Aung Myint Soe – had ordered to security force to train up with arms and given arms to them for their security after June 8, conflict Rakhine and Rohingya.
Six Rohingya from Nurullah village went to forest to collect fire woods and to catch fish in mountain stream on February 26, according to a closed relative of victim.
A group of Natala –Rakhine – villagers went to the forest where Rohingya were fishing in the stream and fired on them which made two dead and four escape from the spot.
But, some said the shooting was made by army personnel who stationed near the Natala village. The escape Rohingya told it made by Rakhine Natala.
However, two dead bodies were recovered and sent to Maungdaw hospital for autopsy by security force (Nasaka). The concerned authorities (Nasaka) and others officials investigated the event, said an officer from security force.
“The bullet hit a Rohingya which blow out one eye and another hit on the head.”
The dead bodies were sent to their village after autopsy yesterday. Later they were buried in village graveyard.
Police officer Than Tin and Hla tin went to the Nurullah village and collected all the kitchen knives from Rohingya homes, but they didn’t do anything to Natala village, said the elder from the village.
Within February 2013, four children of one family were killed by Natala villagers and many Rohingya women and girls were raped by Burma’s security forces in Maundaw north, according to sources.
Sources also said that hundreds of Rohingyas had been killed and thousands of Rohingyas had already being displaced from the Arakan soil by the concerned authorities and Rakhines since June 2012.