Maungdaw, Arakan State: The Western Command Commander Major General Thanug Aye along with a group of State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) officers arrived today morning by helicopter in Maungdaw Township. They are there to oversee the situation in north Arakan, said a close aide of Nasaka (Burma's border security force)
Earlier, on January 9, the commander visited north Arakan with six high level SPDC officers. Then the commander visited the Nga Kyi Dauk (Buthidaung)- Bawli Bazaar (Maungdaw) road which is to be used by the military. This road was used during World War II by British forces. This time also, the Commander will pay a visit to the Nga Kyi Dauk village in Buthidaung Township, said a trader.
Following the dispute between Burma and Bangladesh regarding oil and gas exploration in Bay of Bengal, the Burmese authorities are keen on opening this road for military purposes. If the road is completed, military deployment in Burma-Bangladesh border will become that much easier. At present, many army battalions have been brought to this area following the dispute between Burma and Bangladesh, said a businessman in Buthidaung on condition of anonymity.
The Commander will visit the Bawli Bazaar to Maungdaw 3-mile Gate road construction site today, so the concerned authorities are trying to complete this road before the commander's visit.
Since December 3, everyday, 100 to 200 villagers from each village have had to work on the road construction site which connects Bawli Bazar to Maungdaw 3-mile Gate. This road is about 18-miles long. Villagers have to work in the site in two shifts from 7 am to noon and 3 pm to 5 pm everyday without any kind of support from the authorities. The road is old road and was built by the British during World War II. It was destroyed due to heavy rain and frequent floods during the monsoon.
Local villagers are afraid that if any one from among the higher authorities visit north Arakan once, difficulties and problems will go up in the Rohingya community, said a village elder who declined to be named.
