Maungdaw, Arakan State: The information of spreading rumor about linking with Taliban and villagers of Kamaung Seik (Fokira Bazaar) in Maungdaw north is a creation, according to Nasaka official.

The Burma border security force, or Nasaka Director Lt. Col Aung Gyi said to the public in a meeting held at Maungnama Madrasa of Maungdaw Township today afternoon that the linking with Taliban is a creation, the official said.

“The linking with Taliban with the villagers of Kamaung Seik village under the Nasaka area number 2 is a creation of some political offences between USDP and NDPD supporters.”

“It was found after inquiring in the area.”

“We had arrested some villagers after getting information of linking with Taliban. We will release all the innocent people after interrogation. We also need recommendations from village authorities, elders and religious leaders.”  

In the meeting, about 300 people participated, among them village authorities, local elders, religious leaders and villagers of nearby villages.  

During the last week of February of this year, two persons entered Maungdaw North from Bangladesh where they gathered some local villagers in hopes of forming an understanding between the Union Solidarity and Development Party, or USDP and National Democratic Party for Development, or NDPD groups—two groups that clashed during the national elections held on November 7, 2010. Most villagers supported the NDPD candidates, so the local authorities and Nasaka collaborators were very angry with the supporters of NDPD candidates.

“But one of the Nasaka collaborators informed the Nasaka that a group of insurgents had entered Burma and held a meeting with local villagers. Taking this opportunity, the Nasaka arbitrarily arrested people, tortured them, and forced them to admit that they had links to insurgents,” the elder said.

“There is no evidence to suggest that the Arakanese Rohingya community consented to the discussion with insurgents. It is just an excuse for the Nasaka to charge, harass, and extort money from the Arakanese Rohingya community.”

In Kamaung Seik (Fokira Bazaar), more than 20 villagers have been arrested and detained in the different Nasaka sectors from one to six in Maungdaw Township. There are a total of eight Nasaka areas (sectors) in Maungdaw Township.

In addition, the Nasaka arrested other four villagers—namely Sayed Amin (22), son of Md. Shoffi, Master Zahid Alam (44), son of Noor Ahmed, Abuya (38), son of Sher Muluk, and Sayed Alam (42), son of Mir Ahmed—last night. All of the arrestees belong to Latpuya Village under the Kwan Thipian Village Tract of Maungdaw Township.