Nasaka (Burma’s border security force) is still forcing Rohingyas in Rathedaung Township to submit their personal details and be photographed for a database, according to a school teacher who spoke on condition of anonymity.
They started it on Jan.10. By now all of the villagers know the drill: they must comply or runs the risk of being fined and even arrested. Though this time, Nasaka personnel are leaving the line for race blank. In the past they filled it in with Bengali – suggesting Rohingya are from Bangladesh and not Arakan state, therefore making them illegal immigrants.
The school teacher said they have to pay 1,500 Kyat for each family photograph, 3,000 Kyat to register newborns, 3,000 Kyat to remove deceased from the list and 7,000 Kyat to remove those who have fled the state.
To make matters worse, Nasaka is not adding married women (or their offspring) who were originally from outside of the township but got official permission to wed from the state authorities, according to a businessman who didn’t want his name used.
