Five villagers were arrested, tortured and later money extorted from them by Burma’s border security force (Nasaka) on August 25, while on the way home after cutting pillars from the forest to construct latrines on the say so of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), said a close relative of the victims.  

The victims were identified as Mohamed, son of Noor Alam, Md. Salam, son of Besa Ali, Md. Noor, son of Shabbir Ahmed, Abdu Mazid, son of Nazir Ahmed and another. They all belong to Maung Nama Aley Rwa village of Mangdaw Township.

They were arrested by Nasaka personnel of Aung Mingala Nasaka outpost camp of Maungdaw Township nearby Mirzitala village while they were returning from the forest.

After arrest, they were tortured for extortion. The Nasaka knows that the way to extract money from the Rohingya community is severe torture. However, the arrested were released after taking Kyat 20,000 and one big cock each. One big cock costs Kyat 6,000. They are all daily labourers.  They managed this money with much difficulty, said a schoolteacher.  

These villagers went to the forest after getting passes from the forest department.  They paid Kyat 200 per head at the forest gate.

The UNDP will provide Kyat 17,000 for one latrine in the Maung Nama village. So, the villagers went to the forest for pillars to make the latrine on the recommendation of the District PDC chairman, Township PDC chairman and UNDP.  But, the Nasaka ignored this, said a local trader.  
Earlier, the Nasaka did not bother villagers who wanted to go to the forest.

Being informed, recently, the Nasaka personnel of Aung Mingala outpost camp went to the forest to seize some pillars which were cut by the villagers on the say so of CARE, an NGO working in north Arakan. But, they failed to seize the pillars as CARE works in cooperation with the government. After the incident, the Nasaka was furious and is disturbing villagers who go to the forest. CARE provided 40 latrines in Mirzitala village, said a local businessman.