Maungdaw, Arakan State: Officers of Burma’s border security force, or Nasaka, harassed Rohingya students who were on their way to sit for their matriculation examination, said a student from Maungdaw.

Anno (not his real name) is a student of class X at Maungdaw High School. He always travels to school from his village and back by trishaw or motorbike, the student said.

“He always crosses the Shweza Bridge while he goes to school, but yesterday he was stopped at the bridge for a toll while he was riding a motorbike.”

The bridge security and Anno quarreled about the toll while Anno was going to school for his examination which started on March 7, according to an elder from Shweza village.

“Anno’s books were spread on the road and his school bag was torn apart by the Nasaka. Finally, locals rushed to the spot, which made the officers depart.”

Anno complained about the incident to his school’s authorities, who then reported the incident to U Aung Kyaw Oo, the head of Township Authority and Nasaka Headquarters. However, no action was taken against the bridge security officials, said a schoolteacher from Maungdaw.

“It is very important for students to get to the examination center on time, otherwise they will be expelled.”

“The Nasaka personnel of the bridge security post always demand tolls from the students who ride motorbikes. The toll is not imposed by the authorities, but the bridge security officers forcefully take money from drivers.”

“The toll is only imposed for the Arakanese Rohingya community on the bridge, not for the Arakanese Rakhine community.”