Buthidaung, Arakan State: Tomas Ojea Quintana United Nations human rights envoy along with Steve Marshal, ILO officer of Rangoon, visited north Arakan on February 17, said an aide of the Township Peace and Development Council (TPDC) in Buthidaung.
The envoy went to Buthidaung from Sittwe (Akyab) in a speed boat. He went to Buthidaung jail as well and then visited a Natala (model) village in Buthidaung Township. He was supposed to go to Maungdaw Town, but the trip was canceled for unknown reasons, the TPDC aide said.
The authorities of Maungdaw and Buthidaung Townships assembled some people from villages and towns to meet the UN envoy. All the people were yes-men of the junta.
Dr Boshir and three others from Buthidaung Town, Dr. Htun Aung (Nurul Haque), Sayed Kharim of Zambonia, Hafez Omar Salaman of Khari Para, Maulana Shabir Ahmed of Maungdaw Town Mosque, Salim of Gudusara and one person from Khadir Bill village (name unknown “Batiya Kerani” of Maungdaw Township were summoned to the TPDC office in Buthidaung Town to meet the UN envoy.
The envoy asked Dr. Nurul Haque of Maungdaw Town about the religious situation, movement restriction, business situation and marriage situation of Rohingya people of Maungdaw Township. Regarding these questions, the Doctor said that there are no problems and difficulties and all are going smoothly. At that time, the Maungdaw District Peace and Development Council (DPDC) Chairman was present in the room, said a businessman from Maungdaw Town.
Besides, the envoy also asked Dr, Boshir of Buthidaung Town, the similar questions and he replied also the similar as Dr. Nurul Haque while all concerned authorities of Buthidung were in the room, said an elder who did not want to be named.
The envoy left for Sittwe, the capital of Arakan State, at around 2 pm by speed boat from Buthidaung.
Many people from Maungdaw and Buthidaung Townships wanted to talk to the envoy and see him. But could not, said a trader from Buthidaung Town.
Quintana met some prisoners in Sittwe jail, the capital of Arakan State on February 16, and traveled to Buthidaung prison on February 17, sources said.
According to sources from Akyab, the municipal authority and township office from Akyab town suspend daily workers (Labors, pushcart puller, vender on the street) in the Myoma market. The authorities also ordered to close the roadside shops (Quid of betel, tea stall) from Main Road, Kuntan Road and Nazi quarter while the UN envoy stays in Akyab.
“The poor people who depend on these resources had faced difficult to survival for their daily life. The city people hope the authority will give facility when the UN envoy stay in the town, but now people face more hardship than before,” the source said.
Quintana's third visit to military-ruled Burma follows the release of Tin Oo, the vice chairman of the National League for Democracy led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, after six years of house arrest.
Over 2,100 political prisoners still languish in Burmese jails.
Quintana is expected to meet several key officials in the country’s capital Naypyitaw, and members of the opposition. He will also visit Rangoon’s notorious Insein prison during his five-day trip.
The envoy has requested a meeting with Noble Peace Laureate Suu Kyi, who remains under house arrest. He was barred from meeting her on his previous visits.
The UN envoy arrived in Burma on February 15 on a five-day-visit ahead of the country’s general elections. He has come to Burma to oversee Burma’s progress in human rights. On February 19, he will fly to the remote capital Naypyidaw to meet junta brass.
