Maungdaw, Arakan State: Burma Border Security Force (Nasaka) officials extorted 700,000 Kyat from two couples that failed to apply for marriage permission from the concerned authorities in Maungdaw on December 18, said a Nasaka aide on condition of anonymity.
“Saiful Islam (30) and Abas Meah (40) are two brothers and sons of Dr. Noor Mohamed, who hail from Fokira Bazar of Maungdaw Township. The two are the bridegrooms of the two couples who paid the money to the Nasaka.”
The two brothers married recently without receiving marriage permission from the local Nasaka officers because the Nasaka deliberately takes a long time to issue marriage permission after demanding a large amount of money, said a trader from the locality.
“Saiful Islam is a first-time bridegroom, but Abas Meah took a second wife as his first wife died two years ago.”
A group of Nasaka personnel from Fokira Bazar went to the bridegrooms’ home where the authorities arrested the two bridegrooms and kept them detained at the local Nasaka the camp on December 18. However, the brothers were released after paying Kyat 700,000, said a close relative of the victims who declined to be named.
In Arakan State, the Rohingya community is not allowed to marry without first receiving permission from the concerned authorities. Widowers have to wait at least two years before remarrying. Bridegrooms must be clean-shaven. Couples must be over 18-years old.
There are no such restrictions for members of non-Rohingya communities. The authorities pretend that they have a duty to control the birthrate for the Rohingya community. In reality, they intend to reduce the population of the Rohingya community by giving many kinds of harassment and extorting money, said a Rohingya elder from the locality.
