Maungdaw, Arakan State: Burma’s border security force, Nasaka, has been increasing toll collection recently, from the Bawli Bazaar-Maungdaw highway and waterway in Maungdaw Township, a businessman said requesting not to be named.
Recently, the Nasaka had been collecting Kyat 2,000 per rowboat or Thanban or engine boats, which have been plying to and fro from the Thu Oo Lah (Kullabil) market from Maungdaw Town and the village tracts of Kyauk Hlaikhar (Darguadil) and Mangla Gyi of Maungdaw Township. These boats go to the Thu Oo Lah (Kullabil) market twice in a week. These rowboats and small motor engine boats have to cross two Nasaka outpost camps, one is situated in Nasaka area No.5 and another is established in Nasaka area No.6 to reach the Tha Oo Hla market.
The owners of the rowboats have to pay Kyat 2,000 per boat and the owners of the engine boats have to pay Kyat 3,000 in each Nasaka outpost camp, while plying to the Tha Oo Hla market in Maungdaw Township, said a trader who declined to be named.
Earlier, the Nasaka collected Kyat 1,500 per rowboat and Kyat 2,500 per engine boat.
In addition, a gate was established on the Maungdaw-Bawli Bazaar highway near the Nasaka headquarters. Recently, from this gate, the Nasaka has been collecting Kyat 1,000 per passenger bus and Kyat 500 per passenger. Earlier, Kyat 800 per bus and Kyat 400 per passenger had been collected by the Nasaka. The Bawli Bazaar-Maungdaw highway is only 18 miles long, said a local elder.
All the passengers from the bus have to get down to show their recommendation letters, temporary cards along with photos, which were acquired from the concerned authorities about 100 yards before reaching the gate. The passengers, who have no recommendation letters and no temporary cards have to pay Kyat 500 and those who have temporary cards without photo have to pay Kyat 500. This is only imposed on the Rohingya community. The passengers need recommendation letters to move within their own township.
Besides, the passengers are not allowed to cross the gate from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm, said a local youth requesting not to be named.
There is another gate between Maungdaw and Buthidaung Township from which Nasaka carry out immigration checks on the Rohingya community, while they cross from one town to another. But, aforesaid Nasaka gate has been established to check the Rohingya community within the township. It means that the Rohingya people needs passes from the concerned authorities to go to one village from another within the township, said a schoolteacher.
