Maungdaw Arakan State: Burma’s border security force (Nasaka) has been using forced labor since August 18, from villages of Maungdaw north to pave stones on the Maungdaw-Bawli Bazaar Road, said a village leader on condition of anonymity.

Everyday, 20 to 50 villagers, depending on the size of village, have to go to the work site to pave stone on the road carrying stones from the forest. If anyone not complying with the order, is punished by the Nasaka.

The order was given by the Nasaka Headquarters of Kawar Bill of Maungdaw Township on August 17.

Villagers have to go to the worksite at 6:30 am and have to work till noon.   This road was once paved with stones by the villagers in 1992 and after the recent floods in northern Arakan, it was also reconstructed by the forced labour of villagers.

Rohingya villagers have become slaves of the junta, said a school teacher.

This is the Ramadan month (fasting month) for the Rohingya Muslim, so people avoid doing hard work this month and seek blessings of the Eternal God by doing  more religious duties.  Knowing this, the Nasaka deliberately ordered Rohingya people to provide forced labour this month, said a trader from the locality.

Rohingyas, in north Arakan state fulfill various forced labour duties under coercion and constant threat of reprisal and maltreatment. For many years, the Rohingya have been enduring human rights abuses, sources said.