Extortion of local Arakanese by Burmese Navy and artillery battalions has increased recently in the coastal areas of Arakan after authorities beefed up security for a Chinese company constructing a gas and oil pipeline and drilling for gas, said local residents and boat owners.

"A number of navy outposts and artillery battalions have been set up and deployed in many small islands off the Arakan Coast, especially near Kyauk Pru city, to provide security to the Chinese company. Those outposts are now extorting money from local people," a boat owner said.

Artillery Battalion 373 based in Sittwe has been deployed in several islands off the coast of Arakan, including Kyun Thaya and Nga Pa Thon Islands in Maybon Township. Three navy outposts have been set up on Own Kyunt Island, Own Byin Island, and Thit Poke Taung Island in Kyauk Pru Township.

"We have to pay all outposts and artillery battalions, whenever we cross them in our machine boats. We spend at least 150,000 and 200,000 Kyats at each of the five outposts in Kyauk Pru Township, but we don't know if the collection is state revenue or for their own pockets."

According to a local source, some navy officials tortured and harassed boatmen who refused to pay the demanded amount.

"All private water crafts, including fishing boats, have been ordered by navy officials to harbour at all navy outposts and artillery battalion posts whenever they cross in front of the outposts. If they do not, navy officials fine and torture the boat men," another traveller said.

The navy officials typically fine between 5,000 and 50,000 Kyats per boat if it fails to harbour at the navy outposts.

"Every motor boat - legal and illegal – faces extortion by the officials from the navy and artillery battalions. Now the extortion is increasing alarmingly in our area. But no action has been taken by the higher authorities," he said.

Arakanese people do not received any benefit from their own natural resources, even though the military regime is selling gas and oil from Arakan to China. On top of this, Arakanese people are facing harassment and oppression by the Burmese Army working to exploit those natural resources, the boat owner added.