“Each of the battalions has 300 to 400 army personnel, and they are well equipped.”

Soldiers were sent to Waythali  Natala, Myothugyi, Myoma, Myinn Hlut, Nga Kurah villages and the Kayoungdan High School compound, he said.

Local people – especially the Rohingya community – are both surprised and concerned what will happen with more soldiers in the area, said Halim, a human rights watchdog from Maungdaw.  

“Human rights violations will increase when the army is moving during their routine operations.”

Villagers will be forced to supply rations for the army. Women will be more at risk of sexual violence by the military, he said.

Only days ago a 40 year Rohingya female was allegedly gang raped by soldiers from an army station in Nyoung Chaung village in Buthidaung, according to Hasu, a trader from Buthidaung.

Meanwhile there have been several reports of Buddhist Rakhines being released after being arrested with fire arms. Army personnel from the Myoma Khayoungdan High School compound in Maungdaw district arrested four Rakhine with firearms from Ward four. They were released without charge the same day the forty-year old woman was raped, said Bulu, a Maungdaw teacher.

Six Rakhines were caught with firearms in Mayu Mountain range also on the same day as alleged rape. They were reportedly part of group of 25 men with guns. The arrestees were released after their Phurwut Change village leader said they were only hunting frogs, said Bulu.

These battalions aren’t only for the census, which ends tomorrow, claims Halim. They are until the government feels that the areas are safe.

Bulu said the reinforcements have been deployed to harass the Maungdaw Rohingya community under the pretense of an insurgency. At the same time they are letting Rakhines caught with firearms free.