Teknaf: A search is on by the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), the country’s border security force for two Nasaka defectors in two Rakhine villages in Teknaf Township in Bangladesh after Burmese authorities informed them of the defection, said a community leader from the village.

"Twenty BDR personnel came to our village on Wednesday to search for the two Nasaka men, who defected. BDR searched two villages going from house to house, but they were unable to find them,” he said.

Mraitna Wra and Kran Chaung, the two Rakhine villages that were searched by BDR forces all day yesterday, are located on the western banks of the Naff River in Teknaf Township.

"BDR authorities had suspected the two Nasaka men were hiding in the Rakhine villages, so they conducted the search in our villages," the source added.

Two Nasaka personnel fled to Bangladesh from Burma across the Naff River in a row boat on Tuesday night, after deserting their stations at an outpost of Nga Khura in Nasaka Area No. 5.

Soon after, Nasaka authorities arrested the owner of the row boat that the men had taken to Bangladesh, a source in Burma said.

Many Nasaka personnel are dissatisfied because of many problems in the Nasaka.

Former Nasaka man, Aung Than Win, who fled to Bangladesh in 2008, said, "In Nasaka, many lower-ranking men want to resign due to harassment by the higher-ranking officers against those below them, the lack of equal rights within the force, and the inadequate salaries."

Aung Than Win and two other former Nasaka men - Zaw Min Tun and Htwe Hlaing - fled to Bangladesh in 2008 for fear of persecution by Nasaka authorities after they failed to attend a mandatory training. However, they have been refused recognition as refugees by the UNHCR in Dhaka once they reached Bangladesh, despite several appeals.

They are currently living in a rural area of Bangladesh illegally, in an atmosphere of insecurity and in constant fear of action by Bangladesh authorities.

In 2007, two Nasaka men surrendered to Bangladesh authorities with their weapons, but Bangladesh later handed them back to Burmese authorities. Afterwards the Nasaka men were reportedly executed on orders from higher Nasaka authorities at their outpost.
Photo 1. No caption