Officials of Burma’s border security force, Nasaka continue to torture and extort money from the Rohingya community, an elder in Maungdaw said on condition of anonymity.

The elder said that a captain from Camp 14 in Pran Pru village along with several accomplices made false allegations against Rohingyas to detain, torture and attempt to extort money.

Nasaka personnel patrol local villages by night and arrest Rohingyas on false accusations of immigration violations, illegally possession of mobile phones and smuggling goods to and from Bangladesh, said the elder.

Rohingyas are then arrested and tortured until they pay bribes to secure their freedom.

Ayesah Khatun (35) was arrested on October 14 when Nasaka authorities came to Shwe Zaar Kan Bey Village in Maungdaw Township and accused her husband Rashid, (40) of illegally crossing the border and possessing a mobile phone. Rashid fled, but Nasaka authorities arrested his wife. She was released the next day after paying 200,000 kyats, said a local trader who asked not to be named.

In another instance, Jahid Hussain (50) son of Sayedur Rahman, from Shwe Zaar village in Maungdaw Township, was accused of smuggling and arrested. He was detained and tortured until he paid 5 million kyats, according to a close relative.

“Recently, when I asked a USDP campaigner to please try and stop the harassment of Rohingya by the Nasaka, he just said that after the election those problems would be solved if we voted for his party,” said a local farmer.

Members of the Rohingya community say they have complained to local authorities but no action has been taken.

Despite increased pressure on Burma from the international community to end pervasive human rights violations in the country, violations continue, as more people particularly from Burma’s ethnic minority regions flee to neighbouring countries, a schoolteacher in Maungdaw said.

The teacher added that many of these refugees have died on their way to other countries and that many women and young girls have been forced into prostitution in foreign countries.

Sources in Arakan State say that most extortion cases go unreported, and that the physical and emotional trauma they endure drive the Rohingya community further into poverty.