Originally, Nasaka personnel were collecting 5,000 kyats per family from the said village, but later they reduced the amount to 2,500 kyats per family.

On March 21, Nasaka Director Lt. Col. Aung Gyi from the Nasaka Headquarters of Kyikan Pyin of Maungdaw Township spoke to the villagers while he participated in an annual Madrasa meeting of Maung Nama Village of Maungdaw Township. He said that if any authority collects money from the villagers, the situation will be informed to the director through letter or phone, or by going to the Nasaka Headquarters, and the concerned Nasaka personnel will be punished, said a villager who participated the meeting. 

“The director also said that it is not allowed for villagers who are under 18 and over 60 years old to go to forced labor sites. If any authority forces villagers for forced labor, those said persons will be punished. If the villager agrees with the authority to go to forced labor site, the authority must pay 3,000 kyats per day for the person’s labor.”

However, none of the villagers dare to complain to the Nasaka Director due to fear of Nasaka reprisal. Villagers have earlier experiences in which they had complained against the Nasaka’s arbitrary arrest and extortion to the concerned higher authorities, but the authorities failed to take any action against the culprits. However, later, the villager who gave complaints was arrested by the Nasaka and was punished for complaining, said a local elder who prefers not to be named.

Therefore, villagers want to inform the Nasaka Director anonymously through the Kaladan Press Network that Nasaka personnel of Nasaka Area No. 6 have been collecting money for fence construction along border. The Commander of the Nasaka area in question is Major Nay Myo.

“One village elder said on condition of anonymity that he believes that this money is not actually to pay for the fence. It is only for the (Nasaka personnel’s) personal use.”