Maungdaw, Arakan State: Burma’s border security force (Nasaka) has extorted money from World Cup watchers following torture on July 3, while they (Rohingya youths and elders) were watching the quarter final match between Germany and Argentina, said a youth.  

A group of Rohingya youths and elders keen on watching the 2010 FIFA World Cup went to a nearby Rakhine village where they could watch the World Cup on TV.

Nasaka personnel from the camp of Aung Min Gala Nasaka camp of Nasaka area No.6 of Maungdaw township led by Captain Aung Than went to the Rakhine village  and kept all the Rohingya World Cup watchers aside in the room  and tortured them severely in front of other watchers of the Rakhine community without any provocation. They wanted to demoralize the Rohingya community, said a schoolteacher from the village.  

Later on, the arrested were released after taking bribes. Among them one Sayed and his son Abdul Amin of Maung Nama Mizilla Para of Maungdaw Township were severely tortured when they asked why they were taken out of the room without committing any offence.  However, the father and son were set free after taking Kyat 10,000 each.

The Nasaka also extorted Kyat 10,000 to 15,000 per head from other World Cup watchers. This was done by the army Captain Aung Than along with another police officer.

Similarly on June 30, Nasaka personnel of Naribill Nasaka outpost camp of Nasaka area No.6 tortured 68 Rohingya youths and extorted Kyat 3,000 per head while they were watching World Cup at a hall of a local elder in Sarffadin village of Maungdaw Township.

This is the first time, the Nasaka has prohibited the Rohingya from watching  the World Cup as a test to harass them further, said a local elder seeking anonymity.

Since then, youths and other Rohingya people from the Nasaka area  are barred  from watching the World Cup. But, other Nasaka areas are allowing the Rohingya to watch the World Cup, said a business man from Maungdaw Town.