Buthidaung, Arakan State: Rohingya travellers, travelling between Maungdaw and Buthidaung Township have to spend a lot of money for permission from concerned authorities, said a local trader on condition of anonymity.

The Rohingya people face restricted movement. As a result, they live in a big cage or a big jail in Arakan State.  Arakan State has 17 townships, among them Rohingyas are allowed to travel only between Buthidaung and Maungdaw Townships by acquiring many recommendation letters from concerned authorities after paying money.

Sometimes, only Rohingya patients are permitted to go to Akyab (Sittwe), the capital of Arakan State for treatment by spending a huge amount of money.  Those, who are able to afford it, are allowed to go to Sittwe. It may be mentioned that only 0.001 percent are able to go to Sittwe for treatment, said a patient who once went to Sittwe for treatment.

Rohingya travellers have to have Form 4, which is only meant for foreigners. Though the Rohingya people are not foreigners, the authorities force Rohingya travellers to use the form, otherwise they cannot travel even during a crisis.

After acquiring travel permits by paying money, on the way travelers are humiliated in many ways by Nasaka (Burma’s border security force), immigration, police and army.

Initially, the Rohingya travellers have to pay Kyat 500 to the local Village Peace and Development Council (VPDC) Chairman for a recommendation letter. After which, one have to go to the Township immigration officer where one has to submit the VPDC’ recommendation letter accompanied by the family list, photographs and the National Identity card. There, one has to pay Kyat 1,000, said a local businessman preferring not to be named.

After getting the recommendation letter from the immigration officer, one has to go to the local Nasaka outpost camp, where they have to pay Kyat 2,000 to get a recommendation.

The traveller after acquiring all the documents buys the bus or micro-bus ticket from the ticket counter, for the journey to Maungdaw from Buthidaung, but on the way the bus or micro will be stopped at the 3mile-gate of the town where passengers have to pay Kyat 2,000 each.  Rohingya travellers have to spend at least Kyat 5,500 to go to Maungdaw once.

If the traveler stays one night in Maungdaw Town, he will have to pay Kyat 1,000 per night to the 3mile-Nasaka Gate.

Rohingya travellers have to spend money and waste time travelling from Buthidaung to Maungdaw Town once, said a local elder.