Maungdaw, Arakan State: An agent for sex workers from Napaydaw junction is working openly in Maungdaw and encouraging young people to engage in sex, according to Kala Meah, an elder from Maungdaw.
“A Natala (model) villager, who is the main agent for sex workers, is driving around with a scantily-clad female sex worker on the back of his motorcycle, and circling the Maungdaw municipal market area.”
“The agent is making the rounds from Napaydaw junction to Maungdaw (around 2.5 kilometers) five times a day with female sex workers on the back of his motorcycle.”
“Some of the police personnel are also involved in the sex work group, so they protect the sex workers and the agent.”
The Napaydaw junction is a Natala (model) village. Authorities have brought people from central Burma and Arakan State who are addicts, criminals, prisoners, and sex workers to populate the village.
“In the group of sex workers, most of the females are Burman, Rakhine, and other ethnics who are in the Napaydaw junction, and now three Rohingya females also are working in this area,” said a village administration member of Nyaung Chang (Khadir Bil).
“The Rohingya female sex workers are: Kalabanu (not her real name) from Maungdaw south, Lalbanu (not her real name) from Maungdaw north, and Dawlabanu (not her real name) from Buthidaung.”
These females previously worked as sex workers in the boarding houses (guesthouses) of Maungdaw and Buthidaung. The agent got connections with them and encouraged them to join in the sex worker circle of Napaydaw junction, said a local from Buthidaung.
“Maybe the females will get more money from the Napaydaw junction sex worker circle.”
“The Rohingya were not involved in the field of sex worker before, but now Rohingya are also involved in this circle because of the situation of the times and harassment from the authorities.”
On the other hand, a group of police personnel lead by Assistant Sub-Inspector Thanug Nyunt raided the Napaydaw junction sex worker circle and arrested fifteen members during the first week of July, but the Rohingya female sex workers were not included, said an official from Maungdaw Police Station.
“The Napaydaw junction is not only famous for sex but also for drugs and other illegal activities.”
“Most young people are engaged in this area as the young people are getting everything they want. The young people are mostly from the rich families who are sitting comfortably in their family businesses.”
