“They are deliberately targeting Rohingyas with arbitrary killing, detention, torture, injures, looting, and destruction of properties. Nobody is allowed to enter the village. At least 100 houses and one mosque have been destroyed, and the entire stock of paddy, rice, grains and other valuable goods have been taken away by Rakhine villagers,” Malik said.

Local sources report that an unknown number of bodies of adults and children have been found in destroyed houses at Kila Dong east. It is difficult to independently verify these reports as no one is allowed to enter or exit the village.  

The dead bodies of two adult women and one child were found inside the house of Nazir Ahmed and the body of another woman was found inside the house of Mohamed Salam. A local resident reported that a man’s body was found at a garbage dump near the south side of the village school. The resident stated that “we were unable to retrieve the dead bodies as security forces did not allow it.”

Most male residents have already fled Kila Dong East village to avoid harassment and arrest. Eleven Rohingya children were reportedly sighted at the neighboring Rakhine village. The children are being held captive by the village administrative officer and we don’t know when the officer will return them to their families, said a relative of one of the children.

After complaints from villagers, the local authority called a meeting with all of the Du Cheeradan village administration officers and members of the Sayein Gone (10 house leaders) at the Gawdusara School. We the hope local authority will allow us to enter the village tomorrow, said Lalu Meah, a villager originally from Kila Dong east.

“If we are allowed to enter the village, we will know how many people are missing and be able to retrieve the dead bodies,” Lalu said.

On Jan. 14, two high-level officials - the Tactical Operation Commander of Buthidaung Town and the Director of Police Headquarters for Kawarbill in Maungdaw north - visited the Kila Dong east to survey the situation and give direction to the local authorities, according to an officer who declined to be named.

Kila Dong east villagers are skeptical that local authorities will take concrete steps to stop abuses against Rohingyas anytime soon. Some people believe that the authority is trying to divert people’s minds from the fact that they recently seized a stash of weapons at a Rakhine Buddhist monastery at Myoma Kayindan village of Maungdaw Town, said a local youth on condition of anonymity.

Other villagers said that they believe the local authorities have been trying to find an excuse to destroy Kila Dong east village since the violence started in June 2012. Local authorities are encouraged by state and central government authorities - including the President’s Office - to continue the status quo, said a businessman from inside Arakan state who declined to be named.  

Currently, a group of villagers including women, children and elderly people are taking shelter at the neighboring villages of Shaira Para and Boddil Para. The host villagers are providing them with food and shelter despite an order from the government authority not to give assistance to the villagers of Kila Dong east.

The Hluntin increased check-posts in strategic areas along roads and at bridges to search for Rohingya passengers. Villagers from Kila Dong east are specifically targeted for arrest by security forces at this time.   

Kaladan Press is currently unable to verify how many Killa Dong east villagers have been arrested or killed in this recently crackdown. Latest reports are that the villagers are passing their days and nights with acute difficulties in this winter season. Village elders have urged the international community to provide them with protection.