Maungdaw, Arakan State :  The State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) has been confiscating lands from Rohingya farmers for Natala (model) villagers since the first week of this month in Maungdaw Township , said a farmer.  

Surveyors of Maungdaw Township with help from Township Peace and Development Council (TPDC) members and Nasaka, or Burma 's border security force are surveying the land which is meant to be seized.

The authorities surveyed the village tracts of Min Ga Hla Gyi , Naribill, Phur Wut Chaung, Sain Tay Pyin of Maungdaw Township and confiscated some land for Aung Thaya Natala villagers settled in 2004. The Natala villagers of Aung Thaya village are notorious and harass the Rohingya community no end.  

Earlier, in 2004, the Natala villagers were provided some land by the authorities after seizing them from Rohingya villagers. Now the Natala villagers are being provided land again after confiscation from Rohingya farmers.

Besides, all pastures in Maung Nama village tract in Maungdaw Township were confiscated for Natala villagers by the authorities. As such Rohingya villagers of Maung Nama village have been prevented from grazing cattle in the pastures. Villagers have been facing many difficulties in maintaining their cattle, said a villager.

In addition, 10 acres of orchard of Maulana Sayedul Amin of Maung Nama village is to be seized for Natala villagers soon by the authorities. The orchard has mangoes, jackfruit trees and other fruit bearing trees. The present Village Peace and Development Council (VPDC) Chairman of the Rakhine community has been trying to seize this orchard, after the death of the former VPDC Chairman  of the Rakhine community, said a village elder on condition of anonymity.