Some Maungdaw vehicles have been requisitioned by local authorities for transporting census groups, starting yesterday until the census finishes on April 10, said Dil Mohamed, one of the drivers of the affected vehicles.
“I drove my vehicle from Maungdaw to Ahngomaw, yesterday evening and till today. We are not getting food from local authority; we have to use our money for this.”
They aren’t paying us wages, only a limited amount of gas, Dil Mohamed said.
Twelve vehicles are owned by Rohingyas, while three are Rakhine owned, according to the vehicles owner group.
Halim, a Maungdaw human rights watchdog, claimed the government has funds to pay for the census that is supported in part by UNFPA, but they still have taken their vehicles.
They also ordered only Rohingya village administration officers to collect money from villagers to supply all meals for the census collection group, he claimed. One anonymous a village administration officer said villagers were forced to donate money.
Members of the Maungdaw vehicles owner group are upset they are losing money while still having to pay their staff while the vehicles are in use for the census. No-one has told them when they will get them back.
