Published
Thursday, April 3, 2008 - 15:33
Refugees and police clash, ten injured
Teknaf, Bangladesh : Clashes broke out between the police and refugees in a Burmese refugee camp in Bangladesh yesterday at about 3 p.m. when refugees obstructed Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF)- Holland officials to leave the camp. The medical unit was leaving the refugee camp after their tenure was over. Two policemen and eight refugees were injured, according to a Majee, who was unwilling to give his name.
Teknaf, Bangladesh : Clashes broke out between the police and refugees in a Burmese refugee camp in Bangladesh yesterday at about 3 p.m. when refugees obstructed Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF)- Holland officials to leave the camp. The medical unit was leaving the refugee camp after their tenure was over. Two policemen and eight refugees were injured, according to a Majee, who was unwilling to give his name.
Yesterday, when MSF staff was holding a meeting at the IDP centre for their withdrawal from the refugee camp, the refugees were upset because they did not want the unit to go given the good treatment the refugees got. Therefore, they blocked the MSF car while it was leaving the camp.
Some refugees said, “We are very sorry for destroying the mirror of MSF car. It is our great mistake.”
Initially, only five refugee women blocked the MSF car, and later another refugee Salay Ahmed joined them. He damaged the mirror of the car because he was angry. He was caught by the police and was severely beaten up. He was admitted to the Ministry of Health (MOH) clinic in the camp. But, later he fled from the clinic. The four women were also severely tortured by police. This news spread to all the refugees.
A few minutes later, police reinforcement came to the camp and the police beat up the refugees on the street, in the sheds and even in the mosques. In reprisal, refugees threw stones and bricks at the police. At first, the police tried to disperse the refugees by firing warning shots in the air. However, within half an hour the situation was brought under control by the police. The refugees destroyed Research and Training Medical (RTM) office, an NGO.
Eight refugees were injured. They are: Rashida Khatun, Salay Ahmed, Md. Ayub (18), son of Noor Md. Sayed Hussain (26), MRC No. 598, Block -D, Shed No.41/6, Jamal Hussain (19), MRC No.35027, Block- D, Shed No.46/6, Md. Noor (20), MRC No. 9459, Block-B, Shed No. 56/5, Rashida Begum, MRC No. 29601, Block-E, Shed No. 25/6 and Abdu Suban (21), MRC No.31231. Among them Rashida Khatun, Abu Suban and Md. Salay received bullets injuries and Rashida Khatun is in critical condition. They all are from the Nayapara refugee camp. Except Salay Ahmed, seven refugees were arrested by the police, according to a Majee.
Besides, two policemen were injured, one on his face and the second in his hand when the refugees hurled stones at them.
After the incident, the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Teknaf Md. Altaf Hossion Chowdhury, the Assistant Superintend of Police (ASP) of Teknaf police Station, the army and Rab (Rapid Action Battalion) visited the refugee camp.
Last night, most of the refugees slept in jungles in fear of arrest.
Today at about 6:00 am, the camp police arrested five refugee women namely Rabiya Khatoon (40), Kismat Ara (17), four months pregnant, Zura Khatoon (25), Halema Khatoon (30) and Noor Jahan (55) from Nayapara camp. They were severely tortured while they were going to Teknaf police station to see their relatives who were arrested last night. The women were later released.
Today, at around 9 am, the camp-in-charge and UNHCR held a meeting, regarding the incident.
When asked Fiido Herimcks, the head of Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) mission of Holland said, "We had to withdraw from the refugee camp as our tenure is over. But, before leaving the camp, we handed over duty to an NGO named RTM (Research and Training Medical). We will support the NGO. We gave them training. Besides, our car was attacked by the refugees."
The head of the MSF mission further added that the makeshift camp will be transferred to another place named Leddha and the makeshift camp refugees will be supported by International Islamic Relief Organization (IIRO). The (MSF) will also support it.
According to local Banglar newspaper, 15 policemen were injured and two cars were destroyed and only five refugees were arrested. It also mentioned that 32 bullets were fired. But according to refugees, over 50 bullets were fired. But all were fired in the air.
Yesterday, when MSF staff was holding a meeting at the IDP centre for their withdrawal from the refugee camp, the refugees were upset because they did not want the unit to go given the good treatment the refugees got. Therefore, they blocked the MSF car while it was leaving the camp.
Some refugees said, “We are very sorry for destroying the mirror of MSF car. It is our great mistake.”
Initially, only five refugee women blocked the MSF car, and later another refugee Salay Ahmed joined them. He damaged the mirror of the car because he was angry. He was caught by the police and was severely beaten up. He was admitted to the Ministry of Health (MOH) clinic in the camp. But, later he fled from the clinic. The four women were also severely tortured by police. This news spread to all the refugees.
A few minutes later, police reinforcement came to the camp and the police beat up the refugees on the street, in the sheds and even in the mosques. In reprisal, refugees threw stones and bricks at the police. At first, the police tried to disperse the refugees by firing warning shots in the air. However, within half an hour the situation was brought under control by the police. The refugees destroyed Research and Training Medical (RTM) office, an NGO.
Eight refugees were injured. They are: Rashida Khatun, Salay Ahmed, Md. Ayub (18), son of Noor Md. Sayed Hussain (26), MRC No. 598, Block -D, Shed No.41/6, Jamal Hussain (19), MRC No.35027, Block- D, Shed No.46/6, Md. Noor (20), MRC No. 9459, Block-B, Shed No. 56/5, Rashida Begum, MRC No. 29601, Block-E, Shed No. 25/6 and Abdu Suban (21), MRC No.31231. Among them Rashida Khatun, Abu Suban and Md. Salay received bullets injuries and Rashida Khatun is in critical condition. They all are from the Nayapara refugee camp. Except Salay Ahmed, seven refugees were arrested by the police, according to a Majee.
Besides, two policemen were injured, one on his face and the second in his hand when the refugees hurled stones at them.
After the incident, the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Teknaf Md. Altaf Hossion Chowdhury, the Assistant Superintend of Police (ASP) of Teknaf police Station, the army and Rab (Rapid Action Battalion) visited the refugee camp.
Last night, most of the refugees slept in jungles in fear of arrest.
Today at about 6:00 am, the camp police arrested five refugee women namely Rabiya Khatoon (40), Kismat Ara (17), four months pregnant, Zura Khatoon (25), Halema Khatoon (30) and Noor Jahan (55) from Nayapara camp. They were severely tortured while they were going to Teknaf police station to see their relatives who were arrested last night. The women were later released.
Today, at around 9 am, the camp-in-charge and UNHCR held a meeting, regarding the incident.
When asked Fiido Herimcks, the head of Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) mission of Holland said, "We had to withdraw from the refugee camp as our tenure is over. But, before leaving the camp, we handed over duty to an NGO named RTM (Research and Training Medical). We will support the NGO. We gave them training. Besides, our car was attacked by the refugees."
The head of the MSF mission further added that the makeshift camp will be transferred to another place named Leddha and the makeshift camp refugees will be supported by International Islamic Relief Organization (IIRO). The (MSF) will also support it.
According to local Banglar newspaper, 15 policemen were injured and two cars were destroyed and only five refugees were arrested. It also mentioned that 32 bullets were fired. But according to refugees, over 50 bullets were fired. But all were fired in the air.
