Maungdaw, Arakan State: The ruling military junta is once again perpetrating religious persecution against the largely-Muslim Rohingya community in northern Arakan State, according to a religious leader from Maungdaw.

“The junta had restricted the building or repair of religious buildings in northern Arakan State after the Burma border security force (Nasaka) was established in the area,” the leader explained.

“Before the national election in November, high officials from Naypyidaw gave verbal promises that the Rohingya community would be able to build religious buildings when they visited religious functions in Maungdaw.”

“The authorities had given permission for repairs to the Maungdaw Juma mosque, and the concerned persons from the Juma mosque had already repaired some parts of the mosque when suddenly repair work was stopped by authorities last month.”

“The permission was issued by Nasaka director Lt. Col. Aung Gyi on request of the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) candidate, U Aung Zaw Win, during the time of the election campaign.”

Recently, Captain Thein Htun, under the supervision of Major Than Naing, the commanding officer of Nasaka area number 5, arrested seven villagers because they were allegedly involved with the building of a mosque. However, the hut the villagers were constructing was made of bamboo and thatch and was to be used as a community hall. The villagers were praying at the hut as their village had recently been relocated after a July flood, said an elder from Maungdaw.

“The building is not a mosque. It is just a community center for villagers to meet and discuss their problems within the village.”

“Captain Thein Htun, the head of Outpost Camp no. 24 of Nasaka Area 5, arrested Mir Ahmed, Nurkiyas, Nawbi Husson, and Gura Meah, along with three others, for allegedly building a mosque on January 7. The seven people are still being kept at the camp until now. The relocated village was Shwehlanee,” explained the elder.

Similarly, Major Than Naing, the commander of Nasaka Area 5, arrested six villagers of Koukchaung village under Longdon village tract for allegedly working on repairs to a mosque on January 7, according to a school teacher from Kyrinchang.

“The Nasaka arrested Moulana Rashid, Moulana Habib Rahman, Sulayman, Feran Ali, Bodi Alam, and Shihd Husson.”

“Moulana Rashid and Moulana Habib Rahman were only teaching Arabic lessons inside the mosque.”

On January 15, Thein Nyint, the village head, along with other village residents, went to the Nasaka commander’s office with documents and photos made by Nasaka personnel from five years ago, said a village authority member. “The photos show that the mosque was the same as before, but the Nasaka insisted that an extension had been added to the mosque.”