Maungdaw, Arakan State: Village authorities of Maungdaw Township are asking for money from villagers to check the voter’s list, according to a Maungdaw village elder.

“They demanded I pay when I went to check the voter’s list in the village Election Commission office,” said a resident of block number two, Maungdaw Township.

“The authorities demanded 500 Kyats to allow me to check the voter’s list, to see if my name is there,” the resident said.

In rural areas, village authorities are demanding money from villagers who want to check for names in the voter’s list, said a local of Shweza village, Maungdaw.

“The village authorities are asking for 500 to 1000 Kyats per person if he /she wants to check for his/her name,” the local said.

“In our village, the authorities ask for 1000 Kyat for checking the voter’s list,” the local added.

Most of the officers on election duty are earning easy money and harassing people from the Rohingya community, said a school teacher.