Buthidaung, Arakan State: Eighty houses of Mro, Kumi and Chakma communities were set up in Pan Zee village tract of Buthidaung Township after seizing over 80 acres of paddy fields  of Rohingyas as of July 20, said a retired schoolteacher on condition of anonymity.

The villagers of Pan Zee complained to the Township Peace and Development Council (TPDC) Chairman in Buthidaung. The authorities promised villagers that they would look into the matter, he added.

Recently, the TPDC Chairman accompanied by the commander of Nasaka area No 9, the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Buthidaung police station and some other officials went to the spot to see for themselves.

On the site the authorities met Mro, Kumi and Chakma communities and delivered encourage speeches promising help in future, but the Rohingyas were not allowed to join the meeting, said a village elder.

But, the TPDC Chairman told Rohingya villagers on their way to Buthidaung that the houses will be pulled down soon.  

A village elder said, "Their plan is to seize land from Rohingyas and invite local non-Rohingya communities from Arakan State and Burmans from Burma proper for settlement on the confiscated land."