Natala or model villagers steal cows, vegetables and commit robberies in Rohingya villages in Maungdaw and Buthidaung Townships, said a trader from Buthidaung Town.

On April 2, at around 10 pm, a group of Natala villagers from Aung Thaya Natala village of Maungdaw Township went to the Pawet Chaung village Tract of Maungdaw Township and stole three cows from Abdu Samat and brought them to their village.

The next day, a tout of Natala villagers was sent to the owner to take his cows after paying money. The owner Abdu Samat (60) went to the Natala village and met the thieves for the return of the cows. The Natala villagers released all the three cows after taking Kyat 100,000 for each.

After taking the cows, the owner along with three others returned home at night, but they were attacked by the Nasaka of Aung Mingala. However, all the villagers safely reached home together with the cows. But, this was informed to the Nasaka camp by a Natala villager. So, the next day, the owner of the cow was arrested by the Nasaka and was sent to the Nasaka Headquarters of Kawar Bill.

The owner has been detained in Nasaka Headquarters.

A relative of the victim said, “The owner’s cows were stolen by the Natala villagers and he had to pay money to the Natala villagers for the cows’ return, and they were attacked by the Nasaka on the way to home and finally he was detained in Nasaka Headquarters.  What is the mistake of the cow’s owner?”

Natala villagers with the help of Nasaka or police or army steal vegetables from Rohingyas’ farms; steal goats and cows and chicken. They also rob Rohingya villagers at night armed with guns. For instance, on the third week of March, a robbery was committed at Moulvi Nezam’s house, at around 11 pm, at Nan Yagoon village of Kwan Dyine village tract of Buthidaung Township by Natala villagers of Dabro Chaung. They took away ornaments and cash. They fired in the air threatening the villagers.

"Where did the Natala villagers get guns?" asked a local elder from the village.

The next day, another robbery occurred in Lay Myo village tract of Buthidaung Township which is very close to Lay Myo Nasaka camp, said a village elder from the village.

A trader from the village asked, “How do the Natala villagers dare to commit robberies close to the Nasaka camp? Is there any involvement of Nasaka or army? But, concerned authorities frequently tell villagers that Bangladeshi robbers enter Burma and commit robberies.”

A youth said, “How could the robbers of Bangladesh enter Burmese territory (Buthidaung Township) to commit robberies after crossing barbed wire fencing, many camps of the army and Nasaka camps and the Mayu High Mountain, which demarcates the Maungdaw and Buthidaung Townships.