Buthidaung Township: Over the last two months, the Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) No. 552 has been harassing local villagers of Buthidaung Township, said a local elder on condition of anonymity.

Captain Zaw Moe Hin of LIB Battalion No. 552 went to nearby villages and arrested, tortured and extorted money over the last two months from the villagers over accusations that they have been holding mobile phones, involving in human trafficking, sending news to foreign media, involved in border crossing, living together or illegally communication with girlfriends and backbiting about the local authorities to the Regional Development Association  (RDA) members who came to the north Arakan from Rangoon under the supervision of Deputy Home Minister of Phone Swe and Prime Minister Thein Sein.

The captain arbitrarily arrested villagers from Thanganet village tract, Yangma Kyaung Daung village tact, Ngaran Chaung village tract, Mee Kyaung Zay village tract including War Thait War, Sin Thay War (Khoir Mura Para), Bogyi Chaung village and Mee Kyaung Zay War Gyi village tract of Butidaung Township. These village tracts are the main areas under the Buthidaung Township, said a local schoolteacher preferring not to be named.

There are at least 190 cases against the Rohingya villagers in the two months and extortion of Kyat 400,000, 800,000, one million and 1.5 million each according to arrestees’ financial status.  The authorities arrested villagers who are able to pay and excluded poor villagers.

A local youth said the Captain arrested about 50 villagers from Ngaran Caung villge tract, 20 villagers from Thanganet village tract, 50 villagers from Mee Kyaung Zay village tract and 70 villagers from Yangma Kyaung Daung village tract. Some of the arrestees are as follows:

Habi (40), son of Ali Ahmed, from Yaungma Kyaung Daung village was arrested on the allegation that he had backbiting about the local authorities to the RDA members who came to Arakan from Rangoon.  He was released after taking Kyat 800,000 one month ago. In similar way, Hamid Box (48), son of late village Chairman Nazir of Thanganet village and he is also a Senior Assistant Teacher of Taung Bazar High School and ex-village Chairman Nur Hussain (58), son of late village Chairman Abu Talek, the same village were also arrested for talking with RDC members. However, later, they were released after taking kyat 500,000 each last month.

Besides, Ziaur Rahaman (25), son of Haji late Md. Khasim from Mee Kyaung Zay village was arrested 15 days ago on the allegation that he had found and ancient gold pot near the house and was set free after taking Kyat 1.4 million.  Two brothers namely Azam (35) and Sohan (25), from Yanma village of Taung Bazaar were arrested by the said Captain.  The elder brother was accused for not coming to the army camp in time while the authorities called him and was released after paying Kyat 700,000. The younger brother was arrested one month ago over the allegation that he had a mobile phone, but, later he was released paying Kyat one million.

These are the some of the cases, but there are many unreported cases regarding the arbitrary arrests, tortures and extortion, the youth added.

A local businessman said, “Using the military’s power, the authority harasses the Rohingya people ignoring international communities’ pressure.”

The Battalion Commander Lt. Col Kyaw Thura had handed over power to the said captain Zaw Moe Hin while the Battalion Commander has been appointed to Maungdaw Township to supervise the barbed wire fence construction at Burma- Bangladesh border. Some of the villagers had already informed to the Battalion Commander regarding the Captain’s anti-activities against the local villagers. Villagers believe that the Lt. Col will take action against the culprit, said an aide who has a close relation with army.

Villagers are surprised as to why the Captain alleged that villagers talked to the RDC members who came to Arakan State. They were brought to the north Arakan by the concerned authority to help the local Rohingya people.

A local trader said, “Is it a crime to talk with RDC members? If not why is the captain arresting villagers and extorting money.”

After arrest, the villagers are put in a wooden box where arrestees are severely tortured until the captain gets money. The detainees are not allowed to feed food from the camp, so the relatives of the victim have to send food to the camp from their houses, said one of the villagers who declined to be named.