Maungdaw, Arakan State: Burma’s border security force (Nasaka) Sector No. 6 of Maungdaw Township has been collecting money from villagers since August 5, after providing saplings to the local villagers, said a local trader who asked not to be named.
“The Nasaka provided three saplings to each family, and is now collecting Kyat 2,500 to 5,000 per family. If the family is poor, they collect Kyat 2,500, and Kyat 5,000 from rich families.”
“If any one denied to receive the saplings, he/she would be fined Kyat 15,000 to 20,000, and also put into the stocks.”
In the guise of rural environmental development, the authorities provide the saplings, but they then extract money from the villagers. If the government were sincere, it would supply saplings to the villagers without taking money. They only work for the development of the rural areas in northern Arakan if they will get money for their pockets, said a schoolteacher from the locality.
“In the Nasaka Area No. 6, there are eight village tracts and many houses. They will get a lot of money from the villagers after selling the saplings. The village tracts are identified as Kyauk Largaar, Mingala Gyi, Paung Zaar, Labaw Zaar, Zimbin Ngya, Letpu Gaung, Nanda Khali (Thait Kay Pyin), and Kyauk Pyin Seik (Nari Bill).”
