“Village administration officers U Tun Tun Win and Kamal Hussain collected money from some villagers. On Dec. 1, the village admins. extorted 70,000 kyat from Boudi Alam, 19; son of Abu, hailed from Powet Chaung village.”

On Dec. 3, the same officers in Pawet Chaung village tract reportedly took 100,000 kyat from Nurul Hague, 25; son of Kala Meah and fiancée Senu Wara Begum, 18; daughter of Mohamed Salam, from Pawet Chaung Wra Thet village, according to a relative that didn’t want their name used. Four days later, Araf, 20; son of Nur Hashim, from Thay Chaung village paid 50,000 kyat for permission to marry, said an anonymous source from the village.

Rohingyas are not recognized by the government as citizens even though most have called Arakan state home for generations and even centuries. To marry they need the government’s permission.  Early this year, before Burma border security force Nasaka was dissolved, couples had no choice but pay exorbitant bribes to tie the knot. With Nasaka de-banded the corruption was supposed to end, but village authorities have allegedly picked up where border security force left off.

One anonymous elder said that local authorities are always extorting money from the Rohingya community and is waiting for the day when these persecutions end.

“We would like to request the government of Burma to take action against these village Administration officers,” said another anonymous community leader.

A business man that also wished to remain anonymous called the ongoing extortion unacceptable, adding there is never action taken against the culprits even though the crimes are committed in plain view of the community.