All the village administration officers who live under Nasaka (Burma’s border security force) area No.7 in Maungdaw South, in Arakan state, were recently summoned for a meeting with the Nasaka commander.
“We were called because the authorities wanted us provide night sentry in the villages, for security,” said one village officer from Aley Than Kyaw who didn’t want his name used.
The commander reportedly said that every village has “to comply with the order or will be punished according to the law”.
Apparently the Gonzondia village administration officer told the Nasaka commander that there are “no youths (left) in the village now”. They all left out of fear of arrest and arbitrary harassment by the authorities. Now there are only old people. The officer asked the commander how they will be able to pay for night security in the winter.
An elder who didn’t want his name used told Kaladanpress that he didn’t want to do the night sentry because he feared harassment and arrest from local security forces.
During the meeting, the Nasaka commander also allegedly told the village administration officers to stop all the primary education of Arabic literature in the mosques or Moktobs (small school).
