Maungdaw, Arakan State: Troops, who arrived recently in Maungdaw Township from Buthidaung town, for supervising the barbed wire fencing on the Burma-Bangladesh border have been harassing local villagers and extorting money, said a local Businessman on condition of anonymity.

Last month, about 100 soldiers came to Maungdaw and are housed in Mingala Middle School and some Rakhine villagers of Mingala village tract under the Maungdaw Township. They go to the work site daily to supervise the fence construction on the bank of the Naff River, which demarcates Burma and Bangladesh.

In the evening, they return to their temporary barracks and have liquor, after which they go to nearby villages every night and harass villagers. The villagers complained to higher authorities, but no heed was paid, said a local youth.

During the day some soldiers go to nearby villages and cut down big trees with forced labour of the villagers and take it to Maungdaw market and sell it, said an elder from the locality.

Besides, after 9 pm, the soldiers go to villages and steal eggs, fowls and vegetables and fish from the lakes. If anyone tries to stop them, he/she is beaten up severely. Sometimes, some soldiers after drinking enter villages at midnight while the villagers sleep. Afterward, they beat the villagers after forcing them out of their homes, said a woman from the village.    

For instance, on February 28, at about 8 pm, a group of  soldiers went to Saret  Oo village of Migala  village tract and severely beat up Zaffar Ahmed (35), son of Md. Omar, Sayed (18), son of  Kamal Hussain, and Zamil Ahamed including 15 other villagers, while they were walking on the road in front of the village. The troops picked up all of them and severely beat them up asking them not to go out from their homes after 9 pm. However, they were released later, said a relative of the victims.  

Sayed is a betel quid seller. The soldiers bought some betel quid and were going away without paying. So, Sayed asked for money. He was severely beaten up and is being treated at a clinic. They also took away Kyat 10,000 from his shop.

“They come here for the fence. Why do they harass villagers?  a village elder asked.  It is clear that they are encouraged by higher authorities.”

Another local trader said on condition of anonymity, “It is their habit to harass Rohingya villagers.”