Maungdaw, Arakan State: Two Rohingya women were raped by Burma’s border security force (Nasaka) on December 29, at about 2 am in Maungdaw Township, Arakan, Burma, said one of the close relative’s on condition of anonymity.  

The victims are Morium Khatoon (18), daughter of Sayed Ahmed and Jarina Khatoon ( 25), wife of Abdul Hamid. They belong to Naya Bazaar of Sikdar Para village of Nasaka area No.2 of Maungdaw Township. Jarina Khatoon is the sister-in-law of Morium Khatoon and they live together in one house.

On the day, at about 2 am, 14-Nasaka personnel led by Sergeant Aung San Zaw Oo of Nasaka area No. 2 of Maungdaw Township went to the house of Sayed Ahmed, while the males were absent. Taking advantage of this, six Nasaka personnel entered forcibly breaking open the door while eight Nasaka personnel stood guard.  

The Nasaka personnel raped the girls in front of the other family members despite the victims screaming, said another relative.

Hearing the screams, villagers rushed to the spot, but the villagers were stopped by the Nasaka, who fired in the air. The Nasaka personnel went to their camp soon after.

The following day, some of the village elders gathered and prepared to complain against the Nasaka culprits to the higher authorities. On being informed, some of the Nasaka personnel came to the village again and tried to arrest the villagers, he added.

The Nasaka imposed curfew in the village where two villagers are not allowed together in one place. The villagers are also restricted from going go to other places to stop them apprising higher authorities.

Besides, the victims were brought to the house of VPDC Chairman Kalu of Fokira Bazaar village of Maungdaw Township.  The Chairman was asked by the Nasaka personnel not to allow the victims to meet or to contact anyone in their village or relatives.  The fate of the victims is unknown, said a local elder requesting not to be named.   

The Nasaka is trying continuously to arrest the villagers who advocated on behalf of the victims. So, some villagers were compelled to flee to Bangladesh and some have been hiding in Arakan to evade arrest.

One of the villagers who fled to Bangladesh said, “After rape, keeping the victims in another house like criminals is a terrible human rights violation against the Rohingya community.”

Another villager said, “There is no security for Rohingya women. Such incidents occur daily in Arakan north, but not registered.”

Some of the villagers urged the international community to rescue them from Nasaka’s inhuman brutalities through Kaladan Press Network.