Rakhine villagers from Sommana and Udaung villages have been harassing Rohingya villagers at night, according a local elder who spoke to the Kaladanpress on condition of anonymity.
“The villagers are going to different Rohingya villages to try to torch houses at midnight while the villagers are sleeping.”
According to local sources, the same group went to Khonza Bill (village) on May 7, at about 11: 30 pm to attack Rohingya villagers. But after someone screamed, locals quickly gathered. They saw the Rakhine villagers brandishing long swords and other lethal weapons.
“The Rohingya villagers are very afraid,” said the elder. Authorities have restricted the movement of Rohingyas in the area. One officer gave a stern warning not to cross the Maungdaw Aley Than Kyaw highway or risk being shot. State authorities claim that these severe measures are due to security concerns, but villagers think they want to keep them penned in their villages.
On daily laborer said he can’t obey the new regulations if he wants to generate an income. “I (secretly) go to forest every day to collect firewood. If I don’t, my family and I will starve.”
