Maungdaw, Arakan State:  Burma’s border security force, Nasaka, has been using a new strategy to extort money from villagers in Maungdaw Township, said a local villager, who did not want to be named.  

A Nasaka officer named Major Nay Myo Oo of Nasaka area No. 6 of Maungdaw Township has been allowing some villagers to trade with mobile phones by taking a monthly tax from them.

At the same time, the Nasaka officer alleged that the villagers, who have been doing business with mobile phones with the permission of the Nasaka officer, are doing another business secretly. By giving such false allegations, the Nasaka officer arrested and extorted money from them, the local villager added.

For instance, on August 16, the Nasaka officer arrested Nurul Islam (32), son of Serazul Islam, Hafez Shamshu (30), son of Sayed Karim over allegations that they have extra mobiles per person and are doing business with those. They have to pay kyat 120,000 to the Nasaka officer per month as a bribe for giving them permission for using mobile phones to do business.  They are still in the Nasaka’s detention center, said a local businessman, who did not wish to be named.

Besides, Deen Mohamed (30), Du Du Meah , the present Village Peace and Development Council (VPDC) of Naribill village tract of Maungdaw Township, on allegations that he has two wives and Md. Dullah (25), son of Md. Amin, who hails from east Naribill village was arrested because of his collaboration with the present Village PDC Chairman. The Nasaka officer arrested the men because they did not follow the Nasaka officer’s verdict, said a village elder, who has good relations with the VPDC Chairman.

The arrestees will be released after paying the money to the Nasaka officer, which he demanded, said a trader from the locality, preferring not be named.

Initially, the Nasaka authorities let the villagers do business and later they indirectly squeeze the money out from them, said a schoolteacher.