Nasaka (Burma’s border security force) is forcing village administration officers to collect money from Muslim villages to fund the upcoming Buddhist water-festival from April 13-16 in Maung Nama village tract in Maungdaw Township, according to a village administrator. The village leader didn’t want to be named for fear of reprisal.
He told Kaladanpress that the Nasaka headquarters in Kawar Bill (Kyigan Pyin) ordered Rohingyas in the village tract to pay to pay a total of 450,000 Kyats for the upcoming Buddhist holiday; if they don’t they will be charged with breaking the law. Maung Nama is made up of Maung Nama Gyi, Maung Nama Ngay and Maung Nama Aley villages.
The money that is collected will be used to finance festivities in Aung Min Gala village close to the Nasaka headquarters. The village is made up of Buddhist Rakhines from Akyab (Sittwe), Maungdaw Township areas and recent arrivals from Bangladesh.
One local remarked that since the Nasaka commander married a Rakhine woman from Aung Min Gala residents have received special status from the border security force.
Karim (not his real name) said that taking money from Muslim villagers to pay for a Buddhist holiday while they are struggling to survive is a deliberate action taken against the Rohingya community. After sectarian violence broke out last year in Arakan state Muslims have been restricted to their villages. They are not allowed to leave for work, said the village elder.
