Maungdaw: Ethnic Burmans, accounting for 120 families from Burma proper arrived in Maungdaw today to settle in four model villages among 29 such villages set up by the Burmese military authorities along the western border since the early 1990s.

"They arrived in our town this morning and many government officials from several departments in Maungdaw went to the district hall to receive them," a government official said.

The 120 families include 179 men and 121 women. The model villagers will be settled in four model villages in Maungdaw Township - in Taungbro (left), Loang Don, Aung Tha Ya, and Kharay Myint.

"This is the second time Burman settlers have arrived in Maungdaw Township this year. Most of the settlers this time are likely to be freed prisoners and retired police officials from the former capital Rangoon," he said.

In January, a group of about 500 people arrived in Maungdaw to settle in model villages located along the western Burmese border with Bangladesh.

A member of the ward council in Maungdaw said township authorities forcibly collected 50,000 Kyats from each ward in Maungdaw to support the model villagers, particularly for buying kitchen equipment like pots, pans and plates among others.

Earlier, the Burmese Army constructed model villages and settled the newcomers, but the responsibility has now been given to the home ministry. Because of this change, township authorities are now collecting money from local village and ward councils for the settlers.

In northern Arakan State, there are over 40 model villages. These have been built by the military where ethnic Burmans have been settled.

A villager in the region said that both local Buddhists and Muslims are displeased with the settlers from Burma proper because they sometimes engage in anti social activities.