Maungdaw, Arakan State: Burma’s border security force (Nasaka) recently forced villagers to buy rubber seedlings. It is Nasaka’s money-spinning business in Maungdaw Township, alleged a local elder on condition of anonymity.

On August 23, the Nasaka Headquarters of Kawar Bill of Maungdaw Township ordered each village household in Maungdaw north to buy rubber seedlings. At least, one rubber seedling has to be bought by a household costing Kyat 500. Anyone flouting the order will be punished.

The rubber seedlings are from a nursery of Nasaka Headquarters. Every year, the Nasaka forces villagers to buy them. The authorities do not care whether the rubber plantation will succeed. Their idea is to generate money.

If they really want the development of the villagers, they will provide plots and rubber seedlings to the villagers. Besides, the authorities have to provide fertilizer and other necessary farming kits, said a local farmer.

The authorities are always planning, how to fleece villagers excluding the non-Rohingya community.

The authorities provided rubber plots to the Rakhine community for rubber plantations and helped.

“If we grow rubber seedlings in our compound, it will destroy our vegetables grown earlier,” said a villager.