Maungdaw, Arakan State: The Military Intelligence (Sarapa) has been extorting money from villagers by doling out illegal indictments, such as holding Bangladeshi mobile phones, receiving money from foreign countries in Maungdaw Township, a schoolteacher from the locality said, on condition of anonymity.
On June 1, Myint Swe, a Sarapa officer extorted Kyat 200,000 from Idris (22), son of Ali Zuher, who hails from Sarfoddin Bil (Hla Poekhung) village of Maungdaw Township, over allegations that he possessed a Bangladeshi mobile set. In fact, he does not even own a mobile set. Villagers are compelled to pay the money, the authority demands as they will not get justice, if they complain to the court. If they complain to the court, or other concerned higher authorities, the villagers also fear reprisal by the culprits. Most of the time, the higher authorities are partial to the culprits, a village elder said.
Similarly, on June 5, the Sarapa officer extorted Kyat 360,000 from Safi Ullah (25), son of Abdul Salam , who hails from Sarfoddin Bill village of Nasaka area No. 6 of Maungdaw Township, on allegations that he also possessed a Bangladeshi mobile set, a close relative of the victim said.
Besides, on June 7, at about 1:00 am, Sarapa Officer Myint Swe accompanied by some Nasaka personnel from Nari Bill ( Kyauk Pyinseik) Nasaka outpost camp went to Nari Bill (Kyauk Pyinseik) village of Nasaka area No.6 of Maungdaw Township and arrested Hamid Hussain (23), son of Abdul Shukur on allegations that he had received money from his relatives based in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). However, the victim did not receive any money from his relatives. The authorities are aware that they will get money from the victim after threatening him, as his relatives live in KSA. After being arrested, he was brought to the nearby Nasaka camp, a close friend of the victim, who declined to be named, said.
However, the following day on June 8, he was released after paying Kyat 200,000. It is an easy method for the State Peace and Development Council, or SPDC authorities to get money from the Rohingya community by making false allegations against them, that they are involved in human trafficking, possessing Bangladeshi mobile sets, receiving money from foreign countries, and crossing the Burma- Bangladesh border, he added.
The concerned authorities only accuse those people, who are able to pay up the money demanded from them. It is a source of earning for the SPDC authorities in northern Arakan, according to a student from Maungdaw Town.
